Iran Nuclear File will Go to UN

31/01/2006| IslamWeb

Key powers have agreed that the United Nations' nuclear watchdog, the IAEA, should report Iran to the Security Council over its nuclear programme.

The move by the US, the EU, Russia and China was approved at talks in London.

However the ministers decided the council would take no action until March, after it has received a formal report on Iran from the IAEA.

The EU and the US suspect Iran is aiming to build nuclear weapons - but Tehran says its programme is peaceful.

The London meeting brought together the five permanent members of the Security Council - the UK, US, France, China and Russia - plus Germany.

Its aim was to co-ordinate their position ahead of an emergency board meeting of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on Thursday.

Compromise

If Iran is referred to the Security Council, it may face sanctions.

BBC UN correspondent Susannah Price says the timetable represents a compromise - the Europeans and United States wanted Iran to be referred to the Security Council as soon as possible, while Russia and China argued for more time.

But a US diplomat expressed satisfaction with the decision, telling Reuters news agency: "This is the most powerful message we could have hoped for."

The foreign ministers' statement called for "an extensive period of confidence-building" by Tehran, following its recent decision to break IAEA seals on its nuclear facilities.

Mr Bush, previewing his State of the Union speech to be delivered later on Tuesday, said he would have separate messages for the Iranian people and their government.

"And in speaking to the people, my message is this: 'You know, we're not going to tell you how to live your life, but we would like you to be free'," he said.

"But to the government, our message is that if you want to be a part of the family of nations, give up your nuclear weapons ambitions."

He added: "We're united in our goal to keep the Iranians from having a weapon, and we're working on the tactics necessary to continue putting a united front out."

'Nothing new'

Separate talks between Iran and the EU were held in Brussels on Monday at the request of Tehran, which is seeking to avoid a referral.

"To be frank, we didn't detect anything new in their approach," said John Sawers, a senior British diplomat at the talks.

However Javad Vaeedi, deputy head of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, said: "As far as we are concerned, it has been a positive outcome."

Iran insists it should be allowed to develop its own nuclear technology, but other key powers do not want it to produce its own enriched uranium, which can be used in nuclear weapons as well as power plants.

PHOTO CAPTION

IAEA flag in front of the International Atomic Energy Agency headquarters in Vienna. (AFP)

Source: BBC