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IAEA Resolution On Iran Expresses "Serious Concern"
The United Nations nuclear watchdog agency's board adopted a resolution Thursday aimed at defusing its standoff with Iran, which alarmed the West this week by resuming uranium conversion.The text of the statement from the International Atomic Energy Agency wasn't immediately released, but a Western diplomat said the message was similar to a draft debated earlier in the day that expressed "serious concern" over Tehran's resumption of nuclear activities. That'll show 'em we mean business The draft didn't mention reporting the regime to the U.N. Security Council, which has the power to impose sanctions. The resolution, a copy of which was obtained by the Associated Press, said the agency cannot confirm that Tehran has declared all its nuclear materials and activities. Could it be that they won't give you access? The text, which was to be reviewed later Thursday by the International Atomic Energy Agency's 35-nation board of governors, noted that "outstanding issues relating to Iran's nuclear program have yet to be resolved and that the agency is not yet in a position to conclude that there are no undeclared nuclear materials or activities in Iran." It also expressed "serious concern" over Iran's resumption of uranium conversion this week at its nuclear facility at Isfahan, saying the move "underlines the importance of rectifying the situation ... and of allowing for the possibility of further discussions in relation to that situation." The measure requested IAEA chief Mohamed ElBaradei to provide the board with a comprehensive report on Iran's compliance with an agency safeguards agreement by Sept. 3. Negotiations on how to rebuke Iran started Tuesday when the board met for an emergency session. A meeting tentatively planned for Wednesday was postponed to give delegates more time for informal talks. (...) Although the IAEA board has the power to report Tehran to the Security Council, which can impose economic and political sanctions on the regime, diplomats made clear they were not considering that step -- widely seen as a last resort -- and instead were holding out hope for a negotiated end to the standoff. WSJ (subscription required) Posted by: Captain America 2005-08-11 |
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