Stay out of nuclear dispute, Iran tells U.N. council

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - Iran urged the U.N. Security Council on Friday not to interfere in the international dispute over its nuclear program and to end its "illegal consideration" of the issue.

Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki reiterated in a letter to the Security Council that Iran's nuclear program was purely peaceful and said Tehran was cooperating fully with the International Atomic Energy Agency.

"The necessary grounds have been paved for this issue to be dealt with solely by the IAEA, free from any interference by the political and security institutions," Mottaki wrote.

"It is incumbent on the Security Council to center its attention on its main and fundamental responsibilities, and to put an end to its illegal consideration of Iran's nuclear issue," the letter said.

"In this context, the Council should allow the Agency to perform its duty in a calm atmosphere free from tension and political motives," it said.

The European Union said it was disappointed after talks in London with Iran on its nuclear program on Friday.

The United States and some other Western powers are pressing for tougher international sanctions against Iran. Tehran denies charges by Western powers that it is trying to develop a nuclear bomb.

(Reporting by Claudia Parsons; editing by Mohammad Zargham)