BERLIN - The head of the UN nuclear watchdog fears referring Iran to the UN Security Council for possible sanctions now would be wrong and instead wants to give Teheran one final chance to comply, diplomats said on Wednesday.
| And then another final chance, and then another ... |
The governing board of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) begins meeting on Monday. The main issue will be a joint EU-US plan to refer Tehran to the Security Council, which could lead to economic sanctions, due to fears Iran is developing atomic weapons. âEverything points in the direction of the need for more time. So it would be in everbodyâs favour to give it some three or four weeks,â a senior diplomat close to the UN atomic watchdog told Reuters on condition of anonymity.
The diplomat said IAEA chief Mohamed ElBaradei suggested to US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice that the IAEAâs governing board could instead set a deadline for Iran to resume a suspension of sensitive atomic activities and help the UN resolve outstanding questions about Iranâs nuclear programme.
| Yasss, a deadline, after which ... nothing much happens. |
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