UN condemns Iran amid nuclear bomb fears

VIENNA - The UN nuclear watchdog has passed a resolution requiring Iran to be reported to the Security Council over a failure to convince the agency its nuclear programme was entirely peaceful.

"The resolution was adopted," an IAEA spokeswoman told reporters.

The International Atomic Energy Agency's (IAEA) governing board approved it despite Iranian threats to begin enriching uranium if the US-backed resolution, drafted by the EU's three biggest powers, that could eventually lead to UN Security Council sanctions against Tehran was passed.

With 22 votes for the resolution, 12 abstentions and only one vote against, the outcome highlighted the split between rich Western nations and poorer developing nations led by Russia, China, South Africa, which disagree with Washington and Europe on how to deal with Iran.

In what EU diplomats said was a victory for Western efforts to ratchet up the pressure on Tehran, both China and Russia, which had strongly opposed the EU's proposed resolution, abstained. Venezuela was the only country to vote against it.

India, which had opposed the EU resolution, voted for it.

Iran denies seeking atomic bombs and says its nuclear programme is only for generating electricity. However, it concealed its atomic fuel programme from the IAEA for 18 years.

Russia, which is building a US$1 billion nuclear reactor at Bushehr in Iran and has much to gain from Iran's plans to develop atomic energy, has long been an opponent of referring Iran's programme to the Security Council.

China, which needs Iran's vast energy resources for its own booming economy, also opposes the Western drive against Iran.

Both countries fear a UN referral will cause the standoff over Iran's programme to escalate into an international crisis.

The EU resolution requires Tehran to be reported to the Security Council, but at an unspecified date -- watering down an earlier demand from the Europeans for an immediate referral.

This means Iran would most likely not be referred to the Council until the IAEA board meets in November, diplomats say.

The resolution, which diplomats said was prepared in close consultation with Washington, says Iran's "many failures and breaches" of its nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) Safeguards Agreement "constitute non-compliance" with the pact.

It added there was an "absence of confidence" that Iran's atomic programme was exclusively peaceful and this gave rise to questions "within the competence of the Security Council".

For two years, the EU's three biggest powers - France, Britain and Germany -- have tried to persuade Iran that it needed to abandon its enriched uranium fuel programme to convince the world that its atomic ambitions are peaceful.

Last month, the talks collapsed after Tehran resumed uranium processing and rejected an EU offer of economic and political incentives if it scrapped its uranium enrichment programme, prompting the EU trio to join Washington in calling for the case to be sent to the Security Council.

Tehran has threatened to retaliate.

On Friday, diplomats said the Iranian delegation had been showing some board members and IAEA general director, Mohamed ElBaradei, two unsigned letters informing the IAEA what would happen if the EU resolution is approved.

One letter said that Iran would begin enriching uranium, a process that produces fuel for atomic power plants or weapons, at an underground facility at Natanz. The second says Tehran would end short-notice inspections under a special NPT protocol.

Reaction to IAEA resolution on Iran

BRITISH FOREIGN SECRETARY JACK STRAW, ON BEHALF OF EU

"Iran has an opportunity now to address the clear concerns of the IAEA, and the lack of confidence in Iran's nuclear intentions.

"It is only when Iran demonstrates beyond any doubt that it is not seeking a nuclear weapons capability that it will be able to develop a better relationship with Europe and the international community as a whole."

FRENCH FOREIGN MINISTER PHILIPPE DOUSTE-BLAZY

"France remains, for its part, keen to pursue all avenues of dialogue in order to reach a satisfactory solution." "This resolution shows the international community's concern about Iran's non-cooperation regarding the non-proliferation rules. At the same time, the text keeps open the possibility of negotiations which we must take advantage of, without delay, in order to put forward proposals which could re-establish trust."

IRAN FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESMAN HAMID REZA ASEFI

"This resolution has no legal basis and is unacceptable," Asefi told the Iranian students News Agency ISNA.

"Iran's answer will be announced after the return of the Iranian team from Vienna and the necessary reviews."

EUROPEAN UNION FOREIGN POLICY CHIEF JAVIER SOLANA

"We welcome the adoption of the resolution and we welcome the broad support it has received from members of the board.

"And we welcome the fact that it leaves open the door to a settlement of the Iranian issue through further negotiations."

SOUTH AFRICA'S GOVERNOR ON THE IAEA BOARD, ABDUL SAMAD MINTY

"We regret that the (IAEA) board has not been accorded the time necessary to attempt to reach a consensus. ... We express our deep disappointment at the way in which this matter has been dealt with and regret the division caused." "Some may wonder if we have lost sight of the big picture. ... I am speaking of the unfortunate and possibly serious consequences of this decision."

YUVAL STEINITZ, CHAIRMAN OF ISRAEL'S PARLIAMENTARY FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND DEFENCE COMMITTEE

"The decision marks the fact that the international community has finally realised that a nuclear-armed Iran would be a problem for humanity in general, not just for Israel and the Middle East."

"I hope Iran's nuclear ambitions can be prevented diplomatically. It is high time to come down with sanctions, blockades, and other tough measures. If not, the Iranians will proceed with their plans."

GEORGE PERKOVICH, CARNEGIE ENDOWMENT FOR INTERNATIONAL PEACE

"India's ( "Yes ") vote indicates that it is taking its international leadership seriously and also doesn't want to jeopardise the nuclear cooperation the US is offering them. The Russian and Chinese abstentions reflect international concern about where Iran is headed under its new government." "Iran threatening to enrich uranium or enriching uranium will actually weaken Iran's position and isolate it and will convince more countries that its programme may not be entirely peaceful."

GREENPEACE INTERNATIONAL, WILLIAM PEDEN

"There are no winners from today's vote. There are only losers. The prime one being the nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament regime, and peace through diplomacy." "With such a high number of abstentions -- 12 in total -- and one vote against, it is clear that the international community is deeply divided over this issue. Sadly, cooler heads did not prevail ... Facts and encouraging trends towards a diplomatic solution to this crisis through inspections and negotiations have now been cast in doubt."

- REUTERS