February 02 , 2006
The five major powers on the UN Security Council have agreed to report the case of Iran to the Council. In a meeting in London, France, Britain and the United States convinced Russia and China to support reporting the Islamic Republic to the Security Council if there is no breakthrough in its cooperation with nuclear inspectors by March. The unanimity of the five veto powers means the recommendation is assured passage when the UN nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), meets on Thursday in Vienna. “Reporting” Iran to the Security Council is a step short of “referring” it. A referral would require the Security Council to decide on sanctions, while a report simply passes the matter to the Council for consideration. The agreement by China and Russia to send the matter to the council does not guarantee that they won’t use their vetoes if the possibility of sanctions is raised.
Meanwhile, a document in Iran's possession was aimed at manufacturing a bomb, the IAEA has said. News agencies quoted from a report prepared by the IAEA ahead of a board meeting Thursday which casts doubt on the regime in Tehran's plans to build nuclear facilities for peaceful use only. The Reuters news agency reports that the confidential report also confirmed that Iran had begun preparing nuclear enrichment, which can make fuel for bombs.
Read about the WJC's compaign for international condemnation of President Ahmadinejad
