US and Allies Move to Refer Iran’s Nuclear Issue to UN Security Council
WASHINGTON: The U.S., Britain, France and Germany have intensified their push to bring Tehran’s nuclear program to the United Nations Security Council, bringing Iran’s nuclear program back to a period of fresh diplomatic tensions.
The four Western powers are pushing a draft resolution at the International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) Board of Governors calling for Iran to be officially notified for not fulfilling its nuclear non-proliferation obligations to the Security Council.The four Western powers are pushing a draft resolution at the International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) Board of Governors that calls for Iran to be officially notified of its failure to comply with its nuclear non-proliferation obligations to the Security Council.
If successful, this diplomatic move will open the door for Iran’s nuclear file to be returned to the UN Security Council for the first time in some 20 years.The proposed resolution urges Iran to fully uphold its international commitments related to its nuclear program and to allow the IAEA to inspect nuclear materials and facilities.
Sources close to the diplomatic efforts point to Western nations’ interest in the move due to Iran’s attempts to limit the ability of IAEA inspectors to access key nuclear facilities and to confirm the amount of uranium it has in stock.
The UN nuclear watchdog has increasingly voiced worries about the uranium stockpile it has estimated Iran was holding of around 440.9 kilograms of uranium enriched up to 60% purity. The draft resolution has yet to be formally introduced in the next board meeting, but the situation over international oversight is very hot.