US, European powers submit Iran resolution at UN nuclear agency

VIENNA: European powers and the United States submitted a resolution to the UN´s nuclear watchdog board on Tuesday condemning Iran´s “non-compliance” with its nuclear obligations, in a bid to up pressure on Tehran, diplomats told AFP.

It is the latest move in a years-long effort to restrict Iran´s nuclear activities over fears that it is seeking to develop nuclear weapons, which it denies. The diplomatic manoeuvre comes as the United States and Tehran have held several rounds of talks mediated by Oman, aimed at securing an agreement on limiting Iran´s nuclear programme in exchange for sanctions relief.

“The text has been submitted,” three diplomatic sources told AFP on Tuesday night. Paris, Berlin, London and Washington formally tabled the resolution at this week´s board meeting of the Vienna-based International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which is expected to come to a vote on Wednesday evening at the earliest. The draft resolution obtained by AFP calls on Iran “to urgently remedy its non-compliance” with its commitments under the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).

It also “deeply regrets” that Tehran “despite repeated calls from the Board and many opportunities offered... has failed to cooperate fully with the Agency”. The agency´s “inability... to provide assurance that Iran´s nuclear programme is exclusively peaceful gives rise to questions that are within the competence of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC)”, which can draw up sanctions.