China, Russia Remain at Odds with West on UN Iran Statement
14 March 2006
China and Russia remain at odds with the United States, France and Britain over a draft United Nations Security Council statement on Iran's suspect nuclear program.
Delegates from the five veto-wielding members of the Security Council are meeting in New York, but have so far failed to bridge differences on a proposed British-French draft that demands Iran halt all uranium enrichment.
The draft also calls for a report within weeks on Iran's progress in answering key questions about its nuclear ambitions.
Chinese Ambassador Wang Guangya said Tuesday that Beijing wants to leave more time for all diplomatic efforts aimed at resolving the nuclear standoff.
For his part, U.S. Ambassador John Bolton said he wants the Security Council to move as quickly as it can.
The United States alleges Iran is seeking highly enriched uranium to make an atomic bomb. Tehran denies the charges.
Russia is seeking to head off possible Security Council sanctions against Iran, and is currently in talks with Tehran on a Moscow offer to enrich uranium for Iran. The deal is aimed at removing Western suspicions about Tehran's nuclear program.
Tehran has so far resisted the offer and is seeking to carry out enrichment activities at home.
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