OceanDrive2
24-09-2005, 13:35
EU reports Iran to Security Council
From correspondents in Vienna
24sep05
THE European Union tabled a motion at the UN atomic watchdog overnight that finds Iran in violation of international nuclear safeguards, setting the stage for it to be reported to the UN Security Council for possible sanctions, diplomats said.
Delaying immediate referral for activities which the United States claims hide covert nuclear weapons work was a compromise to win support on the International Atomic Energy Agency's (IAEA) board of governors for a tough move that could draw sharp Iranian reaction escalating the crisis.
Referral would come only after a report on Iran by IAEA chief Mohammed ElBaradei, which he would probably make to the next board meeting in November.
But Russia, China and non-aligned nations that support Iran's claim that its atomic program is peaceful still oppose the text and expressed this vehemently at yesterday's meeting, diplomats said.
The board is to reconvene today to "decide on the draft resolution," with the decision coming either by consensus, as is usual at the IAEA, or a vote, which is likely due to the divisive nature of the issue, a diplomat close to the IAEA said.
Western diplomats have said it would be unfortunate not to have the united message that consensus represents, but that a vote is still better than not taking action to force Iran to guarantee it is not developing nuclear weapons.
Non-aligned nations, which make up 14 of the 35-nation board, have threatened to boycott Saturday's session, which would deny the two-thirds quorum needed for a vote, but it was not clear it they would hold to this.
From correspondents in Vienna
24sep05
THE European Union tabled a motion at the UN atomic watchdog overnight that finds Iran in violation of international nuclear safeguards, setting the stage for it to be reported to the UN Security Council for possible sanctions, diplomats said.
Delaying immediate referral for activities which the United States claims hide covert nuclear weapons work was a compromise to win support on the International Atomic Energy Agency's (IAEA) board of governors for a tough move that could draw sharp Iranian reaction escalating the crisis.
Referral would come only after a report on Iran by IAEA chief Mohammed ElBaradei, which he would probably make to the next board meeting in November.
But Russia, China and non-aligned nations that support Iran's claim that its atomic program is peaceful still oppose the text and expressed this vehemently at yesterday's meeting, diplomats said.
The board is to reconvene today to "decide on the draft resolution," with the decision coming either by consensus, as is usual at the IAEA, or a vote, which is likely due to the divisive nature of the issue, a diplomat close to the IAEA said.
Western diplomats have said it would be unfortunate not to have the united message that consensus represents, but that a vote is still better than not taking action to force Iran to guarantee it is not developing nuclear weapons.
Non-aligned nations, which make up 14 of the 35-nation board, have threatened to boycott Saturday's session, which would deny the two-thirds quorum needed for a vote, but it was not clear it they would hold to this.