VIENNA, Sept 29: The number of states likely to vote for an EU-US push to refer Iran to the UN Security Council over its atomic programme shrank on Thursday as the UN nuclear watchdog appointed a new governing board.

Ten of the 35 countries on the board were changed, with the newcomers including likely anti-Western voter Belarus as well as arch US foes Cuba and Syria. However, the number siding with Britain, Germany and France, the so-called EU3 that put forward the proposal backed by the United States, was still seen in the majority.

The previous 35-nation board of governors passed a resolution on Saturday requiring Iran be reported to the Security Council at an unspecified date for failing to convince the international community its nuclear programme was peaceful.

It was backed by 22 states, with 12 abstentions and one “no” vote by Venezuela. —Reuters