Middle-east Arab News Opinion | Asharq Al-awsat

EU plans tough statement threatening Security Council action against Iran at IAEA meeting | ASHARQ AL-AWSAT English Archive 2005 -2017
Select Page
Media ID: 55288288
Caption:

Iranian women, listen to the speeches on nominee for the post of Iran’s oil minister, in an open session of the parliament in Tehran, Iran, November 23, 2005 (AP)


Iranian women, listen to the speeches on nominee for the post of Iran's oil minister, in an open session of the parliament in Tehran, Iran, November 23, 2005 (AP)

Iranian women, listen to the speeches on nominee for the post of Iran’s oil minister, in an open session of the parliament in Tehran, Iran, November 23, 2005 (AP)

VIENNA, Austria (AP) – The European Union plans to warn Iran to change its nuclear ways or face the threat of referral to the U.N. Security Council at a 35-nation meeting Thursday of the International Atomic Energy Agency, say diplomats accredited to the IAEA.

The diplomats, who demanded anonymity in exchange for discussing confidential strategy at the IAEA”s board meeting, said the European Union would likely directly mention the threat of referral in a statement listing recent IAEA findings that have added to concerns about Tehran”s nuclear ambitions and urging it to end foot-dragging that has hampered IAEA inspectors.

A European diplomat late Wednesday described the language of the text as &#34hard.&#34

Among new revelations of concern contained in a report drawn up for the board meeting by IAEA head Mohamed ElBaradei is a finding showing the Iranians in possession of what appeared to be drawings of the core of an atomic warhead.

But the main issue is Iran”s refusal to give up its right to enrichment, which can be used to generate power but also to make weapons-grade material for nuclear warheads. Iran says it wants only to make fuel, but international concern is growing that the program could be misused.

A plan floated in recent weeks foresees moving any Iranian enrichment plan to Russia. There, in theory, Moscow would supervise the process to make sure enrichment is only to fuel levels.

But Iran insists it wants to master the complete fuel cycle domestically. Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki told reporters in Tehran on Wednesday that, while his country was willing to resume formal talks with key European powers on its nuclear program, &#34naturally we aim to have enrichment on Iran”s territory.&#34

Currently, Iran”s enrichment program is frozen. But negotiations between Iran and France, Britain and Germany, the so-called &#34EU-3,&#34

broke off in August after Iran restarted a linked activity, the conversion of raw uranium into the gas that is used as the feed stock in enrichment.

While the Americans and Europeans publicly insist they want a negotiated solution with Iran on enrichment, they have acknowledged in background conversations that they would expect additional support from nations now opposed to Security Council referral if Tehran continues to dig in its heels.

In a sign that some of those key nations were now listening to U.S. and European concerns, American and European officials told The Associated Press on Wednesday that Washington and its European allies are gradually enlisting Chinese support on how to deal with Iran and its suspicious nuclear activities.

Beijing”s backing would add additional clout to an ambitious international Iran strategy that recently has seen Russia join the Americans and Europeans in pressuring Iran to give up technology that could make nuclear arms.

For months, Iran has relied on Beijing and Moscow to fend off a U.S.-backed push to have it hauled before the U.N. Security Council. While the Americans and Europeans have opted not to lobby for referral at Thursday”s meeting of the IAEA board, they could resume their efforts at a later board session if they judge that the Russians, Chinese and other key nations will not stand in their way.

A European official told The AP that &#34the Chinese are very, very constructive and on board with the (U.S.)-European position,&#34 engaging Iran on giving up uranium enrichment, while indirectly keeping the possibility of Security Council action alive.

The official, who demanded anonymity in exchange for discussing confidential strategy on how to contain Iran on the nuclear front, was summing up a readout of a high-level London meeting Friday.

A U.S. official suggested the Americans had started sharing intelligence on Iran”s nuclear program with Beijing. While still opposed to Security Council referral, the Chinese were &#34moving closer to the European and U.S. position,&#34 he said.

The London meeting was officially billed as a session on Iran attended by U.S. Undersecretary of State Nicholas Burns and senior officials from France, Britain and Germany, nations that have taken the lead in recent months in negotiating with Iran on renouncing its enrichment ambitions.

But Burns later acknowledged that the Russians and Chinese were also present, and the diplomats and officials said that South Africa and Brazil also attended. Those key nonaligned IAEA board members also have opposed past moves to have Iran hauled before the Security Council. Their presence in London suggested a growing willingness on the part of referral opponents to listen to the U.S.-European strategy.

Iranian lawmaker, Fatemeh Ajorlou, talks with President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, in an open session of parliament to debate on the President's nominee for the post of Oil Minister, in Tehran, Iran, Nov. 23, 2005 (AP)

Iranian lawmaker, Fatemeh Ajorlou, talks with President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, in an open session of parliament to debate on the President’s nominee for the post of Oil Minister, in Tehran, Iran, Nov. 23, 2005 (AP)

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad speaks during a parliament session to vote on his nominee for the post of oil minister, 23 November 2005 in Tehran (AFP)

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad speaks during a parliament session to vote on his nominee for the post of oil minister, 23 November 2005 in Tehran (AFP)