The IAEA board formally relayed the final resolution on Iran to the president of the Security Council, US Ambassador John Bolton, on Saturday. Mr Bolton now must share the resolution with the rest of the council.
_ The council has intentionally set no date for when it will discuss the IAEA resolution because ambassadors say they want to study the document. Because of the delicacy of the issue, consultations will likely take place in private.
_ The first action by the Security Council will likely occur next month, when the IAEA board of governors meets to review the status of its probe into Iran’s nuclear program and recommend further action. The council agreed to wait on the insistence of permanent members Russia and China.
_ If the board finds Iran has not complied with IAEA protocols, Security Council diplomats will meet to discuss how to address the issue and whether to hold a formal meeting.
_ Because of the decision to wait until next month, council action would likely not occur for weeks, possibly even months. In the meantime, diplomats will likely conduct behind-the-scenes negotiations among themselves and with Iran about how best to leverage Iran back into compliance.
_ If Iran fails to comply, the Security Council has the power to impose economic and political sanctions.
MOSCOW: Iranian officials had been scheduled to travel to Moscow on Feb 16 for talks on Moscow’s proposal to enrich uranium for Tehran’s nuclear program on Russia soil.
The offer, backed by the United States and the European Union, is intended to make it more difficult for Tehran to develop weapons.
However, following the IAEA vote in Vienna, Tehran announced it was no longer considering the Russian proposal.
“There is no adequate reason to pursue the Russian plan,” said Javad Vaeidi, deputy head of Iran’s powerful National Security Council.
Later on Saturday, Russia’s foreign ministry urged Iran to cooperate with the IAEA, but did not mention Iran’s statement about the proposal. —AP
