IAEA drafting resolution on Iran nuclear activity News
IAEA drafting resolution on Iran nuclear activity

[JURIST] Diplomats at an emergency meeting of the International Atomic Energy Agency [official website] are working Thursday on a resolution that expresses "serious concern" over the restart of Iran's nuclear program [JURIST report], but stops short of asking the UN Security Council to impose sanctions. Instead, the IAEA draft states a desire to resolve the matter through negotiation. Iran's representative in Vienna, Mehdi Akhoundzadeh, rejected the resolution saying that under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty [PDF text; Wikipedia backgrounder], Iran's uranium conversion activities are not illegal [International Herald Tribune report]. Akhoundzadeh also said Thursday that the draft resolution being considered by the IAEA is seen by Iran as unnecessary pressure exerted by Europe and that the resolution will not improve the atmosphere of negotiations [IRNA report]. AP has more.

11:09 AM ET – Reuters is reporting that the IAEA has unanimously adopted the resolution expressing "serious concern" over Iran's resumption of uranium conversion and has demanded that Iran suspend all nuclear activities. Diplomats from the European Union have said that if Iran does not comply they will refer the matter to the Security Council.

11:56 AM ET – Under the resolution, the IAEA Board of Governors:

1. Expresses serious concern at the 1 August 2005 notification to the IAEA that Iran had decided to resume the uranium conversion activities at the Uranium Conversion Facility in Esfahan, at the Director General's report that on 8 August Iran started to feed uranium ore concentrate into the first part of the process line at this facility and at the Director General's report that on 10 August Iran removed the seals on the process lines and the UF4 at this facility; …

3. Urges Iran to re-establish full suspension of all enrichment related activities including the production of feed material, including through tests or production at the Uranium Conversion Facility, on the same voluntary, non-legally binding basis as requested in previous Board resolutions, and to permit the Director General to re-instate the seals that have been removed at that facility;

Read the full text of the resolution [PDF], now available from the IAEA.