Greg Schulte

The U.S. envoy to the International Atomic Energy Agency says he is "fairly confident" the IAEA board will report Iran to the United Nations Security Council next month.

Ambassador Greg Schulte told VOA's Persian service Tuesday that in recent talks about the Iranian nuclear standoff, U.S., European, Russian and Chinese envoys have discussed gradually increasing diplomatic pressure on Tehran if it fails to suspend its uranium enrichment activities.

Russia and China oppose U.N. sanctions on Iran, and they have urged Europe and the United States to first use diplomacy.

But Mr. Schulte said Moscow and Beijing also are growing increasingly frustrated with Iran's recent actions.

Iran broke the seals on its uranium enrichment facilities earlier this month, effectively ending a two-year moratorium on its nuclear fuel research. Tehran insists its nuclear program is peaceful.