EU may delay sanctions if Iran confronted by UN over nuclear issue News
EU may delay sanctions if Iran confronted by UN over nuclear issue

[JURIST] EU diplomats said Wednesday that the European Union may hold off on calls for sanctions against Iran [JURIST news archive; IAEA issue backgrounder] if the country is referred to the UN over its continued nuclear activity. The UN has set a deadline for Saturday by which Iran must halt its atomic fuel production, but Iran has given no indications that it will comply with the demands. European powers Britain, France and Germany suffered a setback in diplomatic negotiations earlier in August when Iran resumed uranium enrichment [JURIST report], prompting the EU to threaten a harder stance at future International Atomic Energy Agency [official website] and UN meetings. EU nations have previously favored diplomacy, while the US has supported UN action [JURIST report] against Iran. The IAEA Board of Governors can refer Iran directly to the UN Security Council [official website]. Iran has maintained that it has a right under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty [PDF text] to produce nuclear fuel for civilian uses. AFP has more.