Region | Iran
Nuclear agency defers voting on Iran referral
The UN nuclear watchdog deferred until Saturday a vote to report Iran to the UN Security Council over fears it is seeking atomic bombs, as the European Union lobbied developing nations to back the measure.
- Reuters
- Published: 00:00 February 4, 2006
Vienna: The UN nuclear watchdog deferred until Saturday a vote to report Iran to the UN Security Council over fears it is seeking atomic bombs, as the European Union lobbied developing nations to back the measure.
Diplomats said a majority on the International Atomic Energy Agency's 35-nation board favoured notifying the council on Iran, but EU diplomats needed more time to persuade as many developing states as possible to vote yes rather than abstain.
Iran warned it would curb IAEA checks on its atomic sites if sent to the council, a threat that seemed to influence efforts by developing states to soften the EU-sponsored resolution.
"We are trying as best we can to secure as broad as possible consensus on the board for reporting Iran," said one diplomat. "The resolution is being revised," another senior diplomat close to the IAEA said earlier.
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