Iran's atomic plans: fait accompli or stoppable?

By Louis Charbonneau

BERLIN (Reuters) - World powers have failed to persuade Iran to halt its nuclear programme despite nearly four years of diplomatic efforts and are beginning to confront the ultimate choice -- accept it or stop it at all costs.

The U.N. Security Council has already passed two resolutions imposing sanctions on the Islamic republic for refusing to suspend its uranium enrichment programme.

The West fears Iran wants to develop fuel for atomic weapons but Iran says its nuclear ambitions are limited to peacefully generating electricity and is determined to press ahead.

As a result, the six world powers dealing with Iran -- the United States, Britain, France, Germany, China and Russia -- met this week to begin discussions on whether a third, harsher sanctions resolution might be needed.

Some analysts say it is not too late to stop Iran, which is many years away from getting a bomb if it wants one, through diplomacy and without military action.

"But I think we have to be much more active on both sides of the process -- working aggressively to pressure Iran over its nuclear programme and showing that we are prepared to open real engagement with them if they comply," said Jon Wolfsthal at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, a U.S. think tank.

There is also the option of U.S. or Israeli military strikes to take out Iranian nuclear facilities, though German and other European diplomats said the EU would almost certainly oppose the use of force in favour of diplomacy and compromise.

One diplomat said the EU has yet to make up its mind.