"I hope South Africa will, rather than taking position in the middle ... use its moral high ground to help in our effort to drive Iranian leadership in a different direction," the SAPA news agency quoted the ambassador to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) as saying.

South Africa last week called for continued negotiations to resolve a dispute over Iran's nuclear programme following a US and European Union threat to hold Tehran to account before the UN Security Council.

"South Africa continues to consult with the concerned governments and members of the International Atomic Energy Agency board of governors to find concrete workable proposals that can assist in resolving this matter in a sustainable manner," a foreign ministry statement said.

The communique followed talks between South African Deputy Foreign Minister Aziz Pahad and acting Iranian Foreign Minister Mehdi Mostafavi and called for "continuing dialogue and negotiations to reach a long-term agreement."

The Vienna-based IAEA board, which has 35 member nations, is holding an emergency meeting over the Iran issue on February 2.

The West wants to refer Iran immediately but Russia wants Iran allowed time until a regular IAEA board meeting on March 6 to comply with the atomic agency's demands.

Schulte, speaking to South African reporters from Vienna via videophone, said taking Iran to the UN Security Council was merely a pressure tactic and not the start of a war.

"Everyone wants a political settlement, everyone wants a diplomatic solution, but for that to be successful, the political leadership needs to come to the conclusion that they need to give up their nuclear ambitions," said Schulte.

"There is a tendency to think if you go to the Security Council you are going to war. No-one is talking war, no-one is talking military options. It is simply taking the diplomacy to a new level," he added.

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