Special report: Iran nuclear issue

 

United States Permanent Representative to the United Nations John Bolton (1st L) talks with his Russian counterpart Andrey Denisov (3rd L) during a UN Security Council meeting on Iran's nuclear issue at the UN headquarters in New York March 29, 2006. The UN Security Council unanimously adopted a presidential statement March 29, calling on Iran to resume suspension of all uranium enrichment-related activities within 30 days. (Xinhua Photo)

    UNITED NATIONS, March 29 (Xinhua) -- After three weeks of intense negotiations, the UN Security Council unanimously adopted a presidential statement Wednesday afternoon calling on Iran to resume suspension of all uranium enrichment-related activities within 30 days.

    The statement was passed after the five permanent council members -- the United States, Britain, France, China and Russia --reached agreement on the text earlier in the day ending three weeks of haggling over its contents.

    In the statement, cosponsored by the EU trio -- Britain, France and Germany, the council noted "with serious concern" that the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) "is unable to conclude that there are no undeclared nuclear materials or activities in Iran."

    The council called upon Iran to take steps required by the IAEA to build confidence in the exclusively peaceful purpose of its nuclear program and to resolve outstanding questions.

    It also "underlines ... the particular importance of re-establishing full and sustained suspension of all enrichment-related and reprocessing activities, including research and development, to be verified by the IAEA."

    The council requests IAEA Director-General Mohamed Elbaradei to deliver in 30 days a new report to the IAEA board of governors and the Security Council on Iran's compliance with IAEA demands, including the suspension of its enrichment activities.

    The EU troika originally set a fortnight timeframe for Iran to comply with IAEA requirements, but it had to be extended due to strong opposition from Russia.

    Chinese Ambassador Wang Guangya told Xinhua after the adoption that the statement supports diplomatic efforts to solve the Iranian nuclear issue.

Chinese Permanent Representative to the United Nations Wang Guangya speaks to reporters at the UN headquarters in New York March 29, 2006. The UN Security Council held a meeting on Iran's nuclear issue March 29. It unanimously adopted a presidential statement calling on Iran to resume suspension of all uranium enrichment-related activities within 30 days. (Xinhua Photo)

    "The statement sends a strong message to support the authority of the IAEA and to support all diplomatic efforts that will lead to a diplomatic solution," he stressed.

    He called upon all sides concerned, including the EU troika and Russia, to further accelerate steps of diplomatic efforts outside the Security Council.

    Wang's Russian counterpart Andrei Denisov echoed his position, saying the IAEA must continue to play "a central role in verifying all the evidence on the purpose and nature of the Iranian nuclear program."

    He stressed that there was no evidence that Tehran was intent on building nuclear weapons, adding that "for the time being, we have strong suspicions about intentions, but only suspicions."

    However, diplomats from western countries advocated that the unanimous approval send a strong message that Iran has to comply with the requests made by the IAEA.

    "The ball is now back in Iran's court," French Ambassador to the UN Jean-Marc de la Sabliere told reporters after the council approved the statement.

    "Iran has 30 days. We hope that Iran will comply," he noted. "If Iran doesn't comply, then the Security Council will have to take its responsibilities."

    US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Wednesday that the adoption of the statement demonstrated that "the international community is united in its concern over Iran's nuclear program."

    "The Security Council's Presidential Statement sends an unmistakable message to Iran that its efforts to conceal its nuclear program and evade its international obligations are unacceptable," she said in a statement.

    After the text was adopted, Iran's UN envoy Javad Zarif told reporters that he had been prevented from addressing the Council to make his case.

    "We have been told this was a matter of procedure but I believe it was more than that," he said. "Iran will have to consider the statement in Tehran and will respond accordingly."

    During Wednesday's negotiations, they also agreed to drop the language which would have vaguely linked Iran's nuclear program with a threat to international peace and security, in a bid to get Russia on board.

    The five key council members have been wrangling over how to respond to the crisis over Iran's nuclear plan after the IAEA reported the matter to the council in early March.

    The United States claims that Iran's program is designed to develop nuclear weapons. But Teheran insists that its nuclear program is aimed at generating electricity and it is entitled to developing peaceful nuclear technology under the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

    On Thursday, foreign ministers of the five permanent council members and their German colleague are due to meet in Berlin to discuss the international community's future strategy toward Iran's nuclear issue.

    A presidential statement needs consensus among the 15 council members while a resolution requires a minimum of nine votes and no veto from any of the five permanent members. Enditem