Iran presses for U.N. lead in terrorist fight

Iranian President Mohammad Khatami says the United Nations must spearhead international efforts to fight terrorism.

TEHRAN, Iran (CNN) -- Iran's President Mohammad Khatami called the leaders of Russia, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Syria on Monday, urging them to insist the United Nations should lead any worldwide fight against terrorism.

The calls came on the eve of a visit from British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw to Tehran and as a European Union delegation prepares to visit all four nations contacted by Khatami.

Iran has condemned the U.S. hijack attacks but also has ruled out allowing American planes to use its airspace in any attack on Osama bin Laden, Washington's prime suspect who is believed to be hiding in Afghanistan.

Khatami told Russian President Vladimir Putin that any campaign must strike at the root causes of terrorism, according to Iranian state-run television.

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

Putin reportedly told Khatami that he is willing to cooperate with Iran, later adding Russia would exchange intelligence information with the United States but would not provide military support.

State-run Tehran Radio also reported that Khatami told Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak that greater international coordination was needed to ensure that "in the name of fighting terrorism, we do not create another human catastrophe."

He said the United Nations must spearhead any international efforts to fight terrorism. According to the radio, Mubarak said an international conference has to be convened to take a united stand.

Iran and Egypt cut ties soon after Iran's Islamic revolution in 1979.

The broadcast said Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said the unilateral action of one power could lead to dire consequences.

Saudi Crown Prince Amir Abdullah was quoted as saying Muslim lives are at stake and the Taliban in Afghanistan must realize that "they cannot sacrifice a whole nation to save a criminal," a reference to bin Laden.

The calls came on the day Straw was due to fly to Iran -- the highest level British minister to visit the country since the 1979 revolution.

Washington hopes the European diplomatic efforts will secure Iranian acceptance of any retaliatory strikes.

In another development, the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees called on Iran to open its borders to Afghan refugees if there is fighting.

Commissioner Ruud Lubbers made the request in a telephone call to Iran's Foreign Minister Kamal Kharazi.

Iran has closed its borders with Afghanistan and said it would provide assistance to refugees within the Afghan borders.

The high commissioner office said the United Nations expects 300,000 refugees might be trying to enter Iran to escape the fighting.

There are already 2 million Afghan refugees in Iran, the office said.