UNITED NATIONS, Nov 7: The UN Security Council on Tuesday formally took up a European draft resolution mandating sanctions against Iran for its refusal to halt sensitive nuclear fuel work, after Russia and the United States offered amendments to the text.
It was the first time that the entire 15-member council held formal private consultations on the draft, prepared by Britain, France and Germany.
The text has already been the subject of two informal meetings among envoys of Germany and of the council's five veto-wielding members -- Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States over the past two weeks.
It mandates nuclear- and ballistic-missile-related trade sanctions. It also calls for a freeze on assets related to Iran's nuclear and missile programs and travel bans on scientists involved in those programs.
Speaking ahead of the meeting, US Ambassador John Bolton said the Russian amendments were not “consistent with” what foreign ministers of the six major powers had agreed last summer.
But his Russian counterpart, Vitaly Churkin, disagreed, saying after the council consultations: “We believe our approach, our proposals are fully in conformity with the understanding by the ministers.” We have not proposed our own draft,” Churkin said, insisting that there were “no major gaps” between his suggestions and the European text.
He however said Moscow was pressing for the removal of some elements which it felt did not belong in the text.
Bolton meanwhile said envoys of the permanent members and Germany would meet again informally Tuesday afternoon “to discuss the Russian text and the US amendments.” Last week Churkin made it clear that the purpose of any future Security Council action was to encourage Iran to come back to the negotiating table, not to turn it away from negotiations.He said such action must leave the open door to future discussions with the Iranians.
Asked to comment on reports that Washington was insisting on describing the Iranian nuclear program as “a threat to international peace and security”, Churkin replied Tuesday: “We don't see it that way.” At a meeting of the six major powers last Friday, Russia suggested extensive changes to the draft text and the Americans also offered their own amendments.—AFP