EU3 Draft Resolution Referring Iran to UN Council

Yahoo News:

Germany, France and Britain have begun drafting a resolution to submit to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) that calls for Iran to be referred to the U.N. Security Council, EU diplomats said on Monday.

The European Union's three biggest powers, like the United States, suspect Iran is developing nuclear weapons under cover of a civilian atomic energy program. Tehran denies the charge, insisting its nuclear ambitions are limited to power generation.

Germany, France and Britain -- the "EU3" -- said last week that 2-1/2 years of talks with Iran on its nuclear program had reached a dead end. READ MORE

They said it was time to report Iran to the Security Council, which can impose sanctions, because Tehran refuses to give up its nuclear fuel program, which they fear Iran could use to produce fuel for atomic weapons.

"We have begun drafting a resolution. It's short. It calls for (IAEA chief Mohamed) ElBaradei to report Iran to the U.N. Security Council," one diplomat said on condition of anonymity.

Diplomats said the drafting was at a very early stage and that the Europeans were consulting all members of the IAEA 35-nation board of governors to ensure that they are as close to unanimity when any resolution is put to a vote.

"What is important is that (we get as close to) unanimity as possible," a diplomat said.

The diplomats said the EU3 was closely consulting the United States in the drafting process, though the EU trio was handling the actual writing of the text.

The IAEA board is expected to hold an emergency meeting in the next few weeks to discuss the EU3 resolution. The Western nations have a simple majority in favor of referral but are hoping that key countries like Russia and China will back it.