After days of haggling the IAEA passed a resolution with consensus which asks Iran to freeze all activities related to uranium enrichment. Iran, by insisting that its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes played down the importance of the resolution. The 35 nation board of governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency passed a resolution on Saturday criticizing Iran for the lack of transparency over its nuclear program.
The resolution, unanimously approved by delegates after days of discussions, asked Iran to suspend all its uranium enrichment activities that could be used to produce nuclear weapons. It emphasised that Iran’s full compliance with this request would be considered as a confidence-building exercise. However, the UN’s nuclear watch dog stopped short of setting a clear deadline for Iran.
John Bolton, the US under secretary of state, said: “the ball is now in Iran’s court” and it is up to Iran to give up its nuclear activities by November when the board meets again.
Jackie Sanders, the head of US delegation in Vienna, was unhappy about the toned-down resolution and warned that Iran’s failure to fully comply with IAEA’s demands would lead to its referral to the Security Council.
The Europeans, who drafted the resolution, would prefer offering Iran economic incentives for cooperation rather than referring it to the Security Council.
Hossein Mossavian, the head of Iran’s delegate, said within the next few days Iran will announce its decision over whether to stop nuclear enrichment. But Mr. Mossavian insisted that Iran’s suspension of uranium enrichment was temporary and that under the NPT Iran is entitled to resume it when she wants to.
Mohammed Al Baradei, the head of the atomic agency, in a press conference on Saturday said the resolution compels Iran to increase its cooperation with the IAEA’s inspectors. He said to reporters that Iran must give us a clear understanding of its nuclear activities. In addition, the resolution demands that Mr. Al Baradei report to the board of governors in November on how far Iran has responded to their demands. The board of governors repeatedly asked Iran to abandon its uranium enrichment and related activities in order for them to gain the lost confidence in Iran’s intentions.
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