Top Diplomats to Discuss Ideas on Iran Nuclear Issue
20 March 2006
The five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council plus Germany meet Monday to discuss new ways to break a deadlock on Iran's controversial nuclear program.
U.N. officials say senior diplomats from the United States, Britain, France, Russia, China and Germany are expected to focus on broader, long-range issues surrounding Iran's nuclear ambitions.
The high-level meeting comes as the 15-member Security Council attempts to reach consensus on a draft document that would require the U.N.'s International Atomic Energy Agency to report its findings on Iran's nuclear program within two weeks. The document also calls on Iran to suspend uranium enrichment activities.
Among the five permanent council members with veto power, the U.S., Britain and France are at odds with Russia and China over how hard to press Iran to clear up suspicions about its nuclear program.
Russia and China say tough action by the U.N. Council could lead to an Iranian withdrawal from the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty, and the expulsion of IAEA inspectors from Iran.
The United States, Britain and France want the Security Council to call on Iran to halt all uranium enrichment, and comply with the IAEA.
Washington says Tehran is seeking nuclear weapons, a charge Iran denies.
Some information for this report was provided by AP and Reuters.
|
NEWSLETTER
|
| Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list |
|
|
|
