UN: France, Britain and Germany circulated a draft UN nuclear resolution on Tuesday that sharply rebukes Iran for sluggish cooperation with the UN's nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
The draft, seen by Reuters, says the IAEA governing board "acknowledges Iranian cooperation in responding to agency requests for access to locations" but "deplores... the fact that this cooperation has not been complete, timely and proactive".
The draft also urges Iran to reverse its decisions to begin operation of a uranium conversion facility and construction of a heavy water research reactor that could produce bomb-grade plutonium.
The text also says the IAEA board, which meets next week to discuss Iran's nuclear programme, "deeply regrets" that Iran has not fully suspended all aspects of its uranium enrichment programme, as it promised to do under a deal struck last year with the three European states.
The text will undergo revisions before going to the board of the UN's nuclear watchdog.
"We have seen the draft. We think the board is going to take appropriately firm action when it meets next week," said a US
official, speaking on condition of anonymity.
Several diplomats said Washington was disappointed that the resolution was not even more critical of Iran, which the US believes is using its nuclear energy programme as a front to build atomic weapons. However, they said US negotiators would push for harsher language in future revisions. Iran insists its nuclear ambitions are purely peaceful.
- (Reuters)