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China requires IAEA report on Iran at Security Council

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

New York, March 18, IRNA
Iran-Security Council-China
China on Friday offered a plan to ask the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency to report to the UN Security Council on Iran's compliance.

China backed by Russia have argued that the IAEA chief should first report to his 35-nation board, which would diminish the role of the UN Security Council.

Chinese ambassador to UN, Wang Guangya, told reporters before all 15 council members met on the Iran crisis, the report should be given to "both the IAEA and the Security Council" simultaneously.

Wang said Russia and China still had differences with a draft statement backed by the United States, Britain and France that expresses "serious concern" about Iran's nuclear program and asks the IAEA to report on whether Tehran had complied with its demands.

"We need to send a message that the Security Council is supporting reinforcing the role of the IAEA, not to replace or take it over from IAEA," Wang said.

The resolution suggests that a report from IAEA director general Mohamed ElBaradei on Iran's progress to be sent to Security Council within two weeks. But China, Russia and others say this is too short.

"I think at least four weeks to six weeks," Wang said.

Russian ambassador to UN, Andrei Denisov, told reporters: "The crux of the idea is that the leading agency is the IAEA."
"It must pilot the whole process," while the Security Council should remain "informed," he said.

A statement needs the approval of all 15 council members while a resolution requires a minimum of nine votes and no veto from the United States, Britain, France, Russia and China.

Both China and Russia have expressed fears that council involvement could result in a cut-off by Iran of IAEA inspections.

No decision is expected until next week, after senior foreign affairs officials from the five powers and Germany meet in New York on Monday to discuss future strategy on Iran.

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