Russia, China near deal on Iran row: Tehran terms issue non-negotiable
VIENNA, March 17: Diplomats in Vienna said on Friday that Russia and China’s softening stance had allowed the UN Security Council to inch towards agreement on a Franco-British statement urging Iran to halt nuclear enrichment.
Russia and China are “starting to show flexibility on having (UN nuclear chief Mohamed) ElBaradei report back to the UN Security Council . . . and doing so under a firm deadline,” said a diplomat, who asked not to be named due to the sensitivity of the issue.
The Franco-British draft, up for discussion on Friday, requests that IAEA head Mohamed ElBaradei report on Iranian compliance with the demands within 14 days.
The Council has been considering various drafts for a statement since last week.
In a draft from Thursday, obtained by AFP, the text was amended to say the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) director general would report “to the Security Council as well as to the IAEA board of governors, in (14) days on Iranian compliance with the requirements set out by the IAEA board.”
The diplomat said the time to be given to Iran to comply will “likely end up at 30 days,” rather than the provisional 14 indicated in brackets in the drafts.
He added that “things are coming together in New York” and that the presidential statement could be adopted by consensus by the 15-member Security Council early next week.
Both Russia and China, which have close economic ties with Tehran, have made it clear they oppose sanctions against Iran and have indicated the IAEA should keep the lead role in handling the issue — another sticking point in discussions with other Security Council members.
“The most important issue is the general approach the West will follow,” a second diplomat said on this issue.
IRAN’S STANCE: Iran reiterated on Friday that its nuclear programme is not up for negotiation, despite possible calls by the UN Security Council for it to accede to demands by the UN nuclear watchdog and immediately halt all nuclear enrichment activities.
“We do not hinge our nuclear activities on a negotiation that is not dignified and will not attain our rights,” Iran’s chief nuclear negotiator, Ali Larijani, was quoted as saying by state news agency IRNA in Tehran.
“We are ready for negotiation, but a negotiation which does not intend to dissuade Iran from having nuclear technology for peaceful purposes. If so we will not accept it,” he told volunteer militia, Basij university instructors.
“The West does not want us to have nuclear technology, but Iran will continue its path with resistance, since it is our legitimate right,” he said.—AFP
