Saudi Arabia appealed yesterday for Iran to abide by its vow not to develop nuclear weapons and set off a regional arms race However, Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al Faisal said the West bore some responsibility by letting Israel build its own nuclear arsenal.

Meanwhile, European Union diplomats said last night Germany, France and Britain had begun drafting a resolution to submit to the International Atomic Energy Agency that calls for Iran to be referred to the UN Security Council.

The three, like the US, suspect Iran is developing nuclear weapons under cover of a civilian atomic energy programme.

Tehran insists its nuclear ambitions are limited to power generation.

"I think the West allowing Israel to establish its nuclear capability has done the damage that we are all suffering from now. There are other countries that now are perhaps pursuing the same role," said Prince Saud.

"But we hope that Iran will resist this temptation," he said, adding diplomacy must be given more time.

"Iran is a country of long history and long civilisation and therefore pride ... Giving a chance for diplomacy as a primary effort to solve these problems would be wise," he said.

He said there could be no purpose in Iran developing nuclear weapons since if it fired them at Israel, it would kill Palestinians.

The prince urged Iran to adopt the Saudi position and help turn the Gulf into a nuclear-free zone.

PHOTO CAPTION

Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal addresses a conference on international terrorism at the Royal United Services Institute in London, Monday, Jan 16, 2006. (AP)