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Six powers adopt UN resolution on Iran nuclear plans

Al Baradei says Tehran is on its way to mastering technology that will enable it to build atomic bombs

  • Reuters
  • Published: 23:32 September 26, 2008
  • Gulf News

  • The IAEA chief, Mohammad Al Baradei has warned that Iran is one of several countries on its way to making a nuclear weapon.
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United Nations: Six world powers, including the United States and Russia, have agreed on a draft resolution on Iran's nuclear programme but it included no new sanctions, European officials said on Friday.

British Foreign Secretary David Miliband told reporters that the six powers would submit the draft text to the 15-nation UN Security Council for discussions.

The United States, Britain, France and Germany would like to ratchet up sanctions on Iran, which has refused to halt its nuclear enrichment work. But China and especially Russia oppose further sanctions.

"We will be presenting a short resolution ... that reaffirms existing resolutions that are on the UN books, reaffirms the unity of the [six powers]," Miliband said in words confirmed by French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner.

Miliband made clear that the resolution did not include any new sanctions against Iran for refusing to suspend its nuclear programme as demanded in four previous council resolutions.

Separately, International Atomic Energy Agency director Mohammad Al Baradei said in remarks published on Friday that Iran is on its way to mastering technology that would enable it to build atomic bombs, if it so chose.

Al Baradei said having nuclear arms unfortunately still symbolised prestige and power, tempting nations with security worries to at least develop the potential for a bomb through the "dual use" enrichment process.

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