The UN Security Council has warned Iran to suspend its uranium enrichment activities in 30 days and to cooperate with the International Atomic Energy Agency.
UNITED NATIONS: The UN Security Council has demanded that Iran suspend uranium enrichment efforts within 30 days and cooperate with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to ease international concerns that it is trying to build nuclear weapons.
Reflecting Russian and Chinese reluctance, the statement was watered down from a proposal that could have led to sanctions. But it sent a ‘strong and unambiguous message’ demanding Iranian compliance, UN ambassadors from the US, Russia, China, France and Britain said.
"There is no disagreement among the five that Iran should not be allowed to have nuclear weapons," said US Ambassador John Bolton.
The 15-member UN Security Council approved a statement on Iran, after concessions were made to Russia and China, who had voiced concerns that tough action by the Council could result in sanctions against Tehran.
Earlier in the day, the five permanent Security Council members (United States, Britain, France, China and Russia) agreed on the statement after several weeks of negotiations.
The statement comes on the eve of a meeting in Berlin between top diplomats of Germany, Britain, the United States, Russia, China and France.
Meanwhile, the United States would like to see a strong consensus to stem Iran's nuclear ambitions. It is also seeking Tehran's cooperation on Iraq. Bush administration officials say they hope the Berlin meeting will prove a political boost for a unified Security Council statement and for plans for a long-term strategy to deal with Iran.
State Department spokesman Sean McCormack says, the burden of proof is on Iran. ''We think at this point, the Iranian regime has worn down its trust relationship with the international community to basically zero,'' he said.
We will not suspend enrichment: Iran
Iran's ambassador to the UN nuclear watchdog said on Thursday that Tehran would not suspend uranium enrichment work, which can produce fuel for power plants or bombs, as demanded by the UN Security Council.
We will not, definitely, suspend again the enrichment," Iran's ambassador to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Aliasghar Soltaniyeh, said.
Heed UNSC: Russia tells Tehran
Russia urged Iran on Thursday to heed in the fullest way possible a UN Security Council call for Tehran to end uranium enrichment activities within 30 days.
"We urge the Iranian leadership to obey the common view of UN Security Council members in the fullest way and guarantee full cooperation with the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency)," Russia's foreign ministry said in a statement.
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