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UNSC's P-5 facing impasse on Iran nuclear issue

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

United Nations, New York, March 14, IRNA
UNSC-Iran-Nuclear
The five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, in their third meeting Monday, were at a deadlock on the official language of a statement on Iran's nuclear program.

The veto-wielding members of the council (P-5) held their third session on Monday to prepare a draft statement on Iran's nuclear activities for approval by the 15-member council.

In the meeting, however, they failed to reach a consensus on the language of the document as the US pushed for a final statement which would pave the way for Washington to further interfere according to the 7th chapter of the UN Charter.

The chapter empowers the council to make necessary decisions to counter "any threat against or violation of the international peace." Diplomats here said that the disagreement between Russia and China on the one side, and Britain, France and the United States on the other, makes it less likely that the council will take a tough stance against Iran when it convenes later this week to discuss the issue for the first time.

A council resolution needs approval by all 15 members while a statement requires the affirmative vote of only 9 permanent members and no veto.

The US ambassador to the UN, talking to reporters after Monday's meeting, said: "Consultations are going on. We will meet again tomorrow (Tuesday).

Declining to give details of their discussions on Monday, he said that he was not "supposed to disclose details of their meetings." Asked when their meetings would be concluded, Bolton said the decision would be made in Tuesday's (today) meeting. We have to move cautiously and systematically on the Iran issue," he stressed.

The ambassador repeated the US' claim that Tehran had already resumed uranium enrichment and is determined to complete the nuclear fuel circle.

"We have a sense of urgency about this...There is a need to move expeditiously," Bolton said.

But he said he could not categorically say when the full 15-member council would discuss the issue.

Asked whether the US and its allies in the Security Council would push for a resolution if the statement sponsored by the US fails to pass, Bolton replied: "We have not reached that point yet." Chinese Ambassador to the UN Wang Guangya told reporters after the meeting: "I think that we want a constructive statement but the Western powers (US, Britain, France) want to be too tough." The Security Council's P-5 held their first meeting Wednesday night after the IAEA meeting in Vienna ceded the issue to the UN Security Council.

1394/2321/1414