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IAEA Gives Iran More Time

25 November 2005 -- The International Atomic Energy Agency's Board of Governors has agreed to postpone talk of referring Iran to the UN Security Council for possible economic sanctions over its nuclear program in order to pursue a compromise proposal offered by Russia.

The proposal that the 35-member board agreed at a meeting on 24 November in Vienna to consider would allow Iran to use uranium processed in Russia for its nuclear program.

Briton Peter Jenkins was one of several envoys to the UN nuclear watchdog agency who expressed guarded optimism about the decision to review the Russian proposal.

But he warned that "Iran should not conclude that this window of opportunity will remain open in all circumstances."

"Time is running out," Jenkins said. "We urge Iran to consider the Russian idea seriously and also to step up its cooperation with the IAEA."

The United States and European Union are concerned Iran is using its nuclear program to build nuclear weapons. But Iran insists its program is strictly for generating electricity.

(AFP/Reuters/AP)

Copyright (c) 2005. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. www.rferl.org