Europe and the U.S. Agree Not to Refer Iran's Case to the Security Council - 2003-11-25

Reports indicate that the United States and several major European countries have reached an agreement on a draft resolution from the International Atomic Energy Agency condemning Iran for concealing its nuclear program. Western diplomats announced on Monday that the draft resolution, which is the result of a compromise between the Europeans and the Americans, does not declare Iran in violation of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, and consequently, does not recommend the immediate referral of the Iranian issue to the United Nations Security Council. Nevertheless, the agreed draft resolution implicitly states that if Iran's violations continue, the matter will be referred to the UN Security Council in the future. The UN Security Council would then have the authority to impose sanctions on Iran. A recent report from the International Atomic Energy Agency concluded that Iran has recently produced a small amount of plutonium and has been engaged in uranium enrichment for the past 18 years. The U.S. government claims that Iran's clandestine activities indicate research into nuclear weapons. However, Iran denies this. Diplomats say the draft resolution will be discussed at the IAEA Board of Governors meeting on Wednesday. Earlier this month, the Iranian government announced it would agree to a temporary suspension of its uranium enrichment program and would accept unannounced visits to its nuclear facilities.