UN considers draft resolution on Iran's nuclear plans

UNITED NATIONS / TEHRAN - France, Britain and Germany have distributed a draft UN resolution that threatens to consider sanctions if Iran fails to suspend uranium and plutonium enrichment work at a yet undecided date in August.

But Iran said again it would not reply until August 22 to an offer of commercial and technological incentives if it curbs its nuclear ambitions, which the United States and its allies believe are a cover for bomb making.

Tehran threatened to "reconsider its nuclear policies" - presumably a withdrawal from the nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT) - if "the path of confrontation is chosen," according to a statement by Ali Larijani, secretary of the Iranian Supreme National Security Council.

The draft resolution, distributed to the 15 UN Security Council members by France, Britain and Germany, has not yet been approved by Russia and China, who earlier submitted amendments that would weaken some of the provisions.

No vote has been set and US Ambassador John Bolton said junior diplomats from Germany and the permanent five council members with veto power - the United States, Britain, France, Russia and China - would negotiate further.

Iran earlier accused the US of trying to obstruct talks to end the stand-off over Tehran's nuclear programme, while Washington said its fears had increased because Iranians had witnessed North Korean missile tests.

A senior US official said US worries about Iran's nuclear capabilities had deepened because one or more Iranians witnessed missile tests on July 4 in North Korea, which experts say is a key partner in Tehran's missile programme.

Washington says the two nations have been collaborating and has expressed concern cash-strapped Pyongyang was keen to sell missiles and possibly also atomic material.

Asked at a US Senate hearing about reports Iranians witnessed the North Korean tests, US Assistant Secretary of State Chris Hill said: "Yes, that is my understanding." It was "absolutely correct" the relationship was worrisome, he said.

The European draft resolution "decides" that Iran "shall suspend all enrichment-related and reprocessing activities, including research and development and suspend the construction of a reactor moderated by heavy water."

The suspension is to be verified by the UN nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency, the document says.

It "expresses its intention" if Iran does not comply with the resolution to adopt measures under Article 41 of Chapter 7 of the UN Charter, which relates to economic and diplomatic sanctions. But it excludes any military force.

At a July 12 meeting in Paris, all six countries agreed Iran had given no indication it would engage seriously on the incentive package offered by major powers in early June and referred the issue back to the Security Council.

Iran is building a heavy-water nuclear reactor at Arak, 190km southwest of Tehran. Western nations are concerned the plant's plutonium by-product could be used to produce nuclear warheads.

In his statement on Thursday, released in New York, Larijani, said the nuclear programme was restricted to electricity production as permitted under the NPT treaty and supported by most developing nations in the world.

"If the path of confrontation is chosen instead of the path of negotiations and if any measure is taken to limit the inalienable rights of the Iranian nations, then there will remain no option for the Islamic Republic of Iran but to reconsider its nuclear policies, "Larijani wrote.

- REUTERS