Iran threatened yesterday to halt UN spot checks of its nuclear sites after the UN watchdog passed a resolution requiring Tehran to be reported to the Security Council over its atomic plans.
Some commentators in Iran expressed surprise over how some countries that had voiced support for its nuclear stance had voted at the meeting of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
China, Russia and South Africa, which had supported Iran, abstained from the vote. Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki had rejected as illegal the resolution that called on Iran to suspend uranium enrichment-related activities until it proves they are peaceful and resume talks with France, Britain and Germany.
He said now Iran had no reason to implement the Additional Protocol to the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) that allows the UN to make spot checks of nuclear facilities.
The protocol has not yet been ratified by parliament.
"Iran has no legal commitment to continue implementation of the Additional Protocol," ISNA quoted Mottaki as saying.
Mottaki predicted a rough ride at the next IAEA board of governors meeting in November, when the case could be referred to the Security Council.
"We will use all diplomatic measures to preserve our right (to have nuclear technology)," he said.
Iran denies it is seeking atomic bombs and says its nuclear programme is only for generating electricity.
But it concealed its atomic fuel programme from the IAEA for 18 years.
Mottaki said Iran had no intention to pull out of the NPT if it falls foul of the Security Council.
Iran had expected stronger backing at the IAEA.
Russia, which is helping Iran build a nuclear power station, was diplomatic in its assessment, saying it hoped its abstention showed dissatisfaction with some "disputable variants on settling the situation", but that the resolution would lead to further talks to settle questions over Iran's nuclear work.
South Africa said it regretted the division and lack of time given to reaching a consensus.
PHOTO CAPTION
Russian-made Sam-6 surface-to-air missiles are seen beside of a portrait of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei at a war exhibition to commemorate the 1980-88 Iran-Iraq war at Baharestan square, south of Tehran September 24, 2005. (Reuters)