What lies ahead
The vote on Saturday by the UN nuclear weatchdog, IAEA, to report Iran to the UN Security Council, could lead to possible sanctions against Tehran to rein in its nuclear programme.
January 30: The five permanent Security Council members plus Germany ? the 5+1 Group ? ask IAEA?s Board of Governors to submit report on Iran?s nuclear activities to Security Council. Iran?s President Ahmadinejad warned that UN referral could provoke Tehran into full-scale uranium enrichment.
February 2-4: Emergency sessions of IAEA?s 35-nation board of governors. Board votes on 5+1 Group?s draft resolution to haul Iran before Security Council Resolution calls on Iran to suspend all nuclear fuel work and to cooperate fully with IAEA probe. Call for punitive measures removed at Russia?s request.
Week of February 4: IAEA to pass final resolution to head of Security Council ? US Ambassador John Bolton ? will circulate it within the 15-nation council.
Window of opportunity: Council has one month for behind-the-scenes consultations.
Early March: IAEA head Mohammad Al Baradei to submit report on status of watchdog?s investigation into Iran?s nuclear programme
March 6: IAEA board meets to review probe into crisis
Mid March: Security Council to convene to discuss whether to hold a formal meeting which could recommend punitive sanctions.
Possible action: The Council could call on Iran to comply with IAEA demands to freeze sensitive nuclear work. Sanctions are unlikely to be considered until a much later stage.
