Iran calls for U.N. lead

Straw and Iran's Foreign Minister Kamal Kharazi set out their positions

TEHRAN, Iran (CNN) -- UK Foreign Secretary Jack Straw says Iran is sticking to its insistence that the "global coalition against terrorism" should be headed by the United Nations.

Straw was in Iran on a mission to encourage Tehran to join the U.S.-led coalition.

The UK minister has now arrived in Israel on the next stage of his tour of the region after UK Prime Minister Tony Blair stepped in to quell Israeli anger at a reported Straw reference to "Palestine."

According to Israeli daily newspaper Ha'aretz, Straw issued a statement before visiting Tehran, saying: "I understand that one of the factors contributing to the growth of terror is the anger of many people in the region about the incidents in recent years in Palestine."

An Israeli Foreign Ministry statement said the comments could be interpreted as "ascribing blame" to Israel and it infuriated Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, who cancelled his appointment with Straw.

In a phone call he told Blair: "There is no difference between terror and terror, murder is murder. There are no good terrorists and every act of terror is horrendous."

AUDIO CNN's Robin Oakley discusses British Foreign Minister Jack Straw's trip to Iran and Europe's role in any retaliation 2.71MB / 4:13min WAV sound   MORE STORIES Iran treads fine line on terrorism   Europe lobbies Mideast leaders      CNN.COM SPECIAL REPORT  CNN NewsPass Video  Agencies reportedly got hijack tips in 1998  MORE STORIES Intelligence intercept led to Buffalo suspects Report cites warnings before 9/11  EXTRA INFORMATION Timeline: Who Knew What and When? Interactive: Terror Investigation Terror Warnings System Most wanted terrorists What looks suspicious? In-Depth: America Remembers In-Depth: Terror on Tape In-Depth: How prepared is your city?  RESOURCES On the Scene: Barbara Starr: Al Qaeda hunt expands? On the Scene: Peter Bergen: Getting al Qaeda to talk

But following the phone conversation Sharon agreed to meet Straw.

In London Blair said he had not been asked to apologise for Straw adding: "This crisis has been so severe and events so traumatic that all round the world people are re-evaluating how they should come together. A whole series of things, that you would have thought impossible a month ago, are now possible."

Blair also used the news conference to issue a warning to the Taliban in Afghanistan -- which has refused so far to hand over the suspected mastermind of the U.S. attack, Osama bin Laden.

"There should be no doubting the unity of the alliance being built against the Taliban or our determination to bring those responsible to account.

"If the regime in Afghanistan refuses to do what they know they should do then our enemies friend is our enemy."

Straw also met President Mohammed Khatami -- a reformist-minded leader who has fought a series of battles with his conservative hardline opponents -- before heading to Israel.

Iran, which is also due to entertain an EU delegation this week, has condemned the hijack attacks against the U.S., but securing its support for the anti-terror drive would represent a significant ally from the Muslim world.

At a Tehran news conference, Straw said he and Iran's Foreign Minister Kamal Kharazi, had agreed to disagree over Tehran joining the U.S.-led "war against terror."

Straw said Britain continued to support the building of an international consensus and that London "stands shoulder to shoulder with the United States in any action against Osama bin Laden."

Kharazi agreed with the need to build a consensus, but said the effort should be spearheaded by the United Nations.

He added that any campaign against terrorism must also look at the root causes of terrorism and expressed concern that military action could result in civilian casualties.

Iran condemned the U.S. hijack attacks but also ruled out allowing U.S. planes to use its airspace in any attack on bin Laden.

A European Union team is also due to fly to Iran to press home the case for joining the U.S.-declared "war against terror."

The EU team began a five-day five-nation trip in Pakistan where delegation head Belgian Foreign Minister Louis Michel praised the "brave stance" taken by Pakistan's president, General Pervez Musharraf, in giving his country's backing and cooperation in the campaign.

Michel said: "Terrorism is a global challenge demanding a global answer."