
Europeans refer Iran to UN over nuclear issue CBC \|\| January 13, 2006 Related - Nuclear War against Iran The UN Security Council should look into Iran's nuclear research, European leaders said Thursday. "We believe the time has now come for the Security Council to become involved to reinforce the authority of (International Atomic Energy Agency) resolutions," a statement from the foreign ministers of Britain, France, Germany and the European Union said. IAEA regulates nuclear activity to ensure it's safe and peaceful. The four European leaders have been trying to negotiate with Iran over its nuclear program for several years, but lost patience after the country decided this week to resume uranium enrichment in violation of the regulator's orders. U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice quickly endorsed the European action. "It is very clear that everyone believes a very important threshold has been cleared." After the European move, UN Secretary General Kofi Annan said a top Iranian nuclear negotiator had told him that Iran wanted to continue negotiations. The international community is concerned Iran's uranium enrichment program could produce material to make nuclear weapons. Iran insists its intentions are peaceful and aimed at producing nuclear energy. Article Posted at www.KnowledgeDrivenRevolution.com "Given Iran's documented record of concealment and deception, the need for Iran to build confidence has been and continues to be the heart of the matter," the European statement said. It cited findings that Iran violated nuclear agreements and had "links with the AQ Khan network, which helped build Libya and North Korea's clandestine military nuclear programs." Iran's agreement to suspend enrichment work in late 2004, while it negotiated with the European leaders, "gave us the confidence to handle the issue within the IAEA framework, rather than refer it to the Security Council." But Monday's action is a clear rejection of the process, the statement said, requiring the UN involvement. The Security Council could impose sanctions on Iran, although that could be months away as diplomatic talks continue. And the IAEA must first formally refer the issue to the UN, although the Europeans have called for an extraordinary IAEA board meeting to start that process. Iran said it wasn't worried about the referral. Russia's role Russia, which has long backed Iran, is considering withdrawing its support over the nuclear issue, the Interfax news agency reported. Russia is a key player because it has one of five permanent seats on the Security Council, and any permanent member can veto any action there. It has previously rejected proposals to sanction Iran over the controversial research. Iran should "do the right thing" and stop the banned research, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said. "In the absence of such a decision, we will find it very difficult to continue our efforts (to support Iran)," Interfax quoted Lavrov as saying. About KDR \| \| Home \| \| Weekly Features Archive	Weekly Weekly Features Archive
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Europeans refer Iran to UN over nuclear issue

CBC || January 13, 2006

Related - Nuclear War against Iran

The UN Security Council should look into Iran's nuclear research, European leaders said Thursday.

"We believe the time has now come for the Security Council to become involved to reinforce the authority of (International Atomic Energy Agency) resolutions," a statement from the foreign ministers of Britain, France, Germany and the European Union said.

IAEA regulates nuclear activity to ensure it's safe and peaceful.

The four European leaders have been trying to negotiate with Iran over its nuclear program for several years, but lost patience after the country decided this week to resume uranium enrichment in violation of the regulator's orders.

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice quickly endorsed the European action.

"It is very clear that everyone believes a very important threshold has been cleared."

After the European move, UN Secretary General Kofi Annan said a top Iranian nuclear negotiator had told him that Iran wanted to continue negotiations.

The international community is concerned Iran's uranium enrichment program could produce material to make nuclear weapons. Iran insists its intentions are peaceful and aimed at producing nuclear energy.

Article Posted at www.KnowledgeDrivenRevolution.com

"Given Iran's documented record of concealment and deception, the need for Iran to build confidence has been and continues to be the heart of the matter," the European statement said.

It cited findings that Iran violated nuclear agreements and had "links with the AQ Khan network, which helped build Libya and North Korea's clandestine military nuclear programs."

Iran's agreement to suspend enrichment work in late 2004, while it negotiated with the European leaders, "gave us the confidence to handle the issue within the IAEA framework, rather than refer it to the Security Council."

But Monday's action is a clear rejection of the process, the statement said, requiring the UN involvement.

The Security Council could impose sanctions on Iran, although that could be months away as diplomatic talks continue. And the IAEA must first formally refer the issue to the UN, although the Europeans have called for an extraordinary IAEA board meeting to start that process.

Iran said it wasn't worried about the referral.

Russia's role

Russia, which has long backed Iran, is considering withdrawing its support over the nuclear issue, the Interfax news agency reported.

Russia is a key player because it has one of five permanent seats on the Security Council, and any permanent member can veto any action there.

It has previously rejected proposals to sanction Iran over the controversial research.

Iran should "do the right thing" and stop the banned research, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said.

"In the absence of such a decision, we will find it very difficult to continue our efforts (to support Iran)," Interfax quoted Lavrov as saying.

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