Iran scorns EU trio's draft nuclear resolution
(Reuters)
Updated: 2006-01-19 09:18

EU powers began circulating a draft resolution on Wednesday for a February 2 meeting of the U.N. nuclear watchdog asking it to report Iran to the Security Council, but Russia was seeking moves that stopped short of a formal referral.

The EU draft resolution drew scorn from ran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

The governing board of the International Atomic Energy Agency will hold an emergency meeting that day on Iran's nuclear work at the request of European Union powers, an IAEA spokesman said.

France, Britain, Germany and the United States are expected to push to have Tehran referred to the U.N. Security Council after it resumed research that could be used for generating electricity or making atomic bombs.

But EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana said European states were considering a Russian proposal that could delay a formal referral of Iran to the council.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad waves to journalists during an official departure ceremony for Tajik President Imomali Rakhmonov in Tehran, Iran January 18, 2006.[Reuters]

Speaking to reporters during a visit to Washington, Solana said Russia had suggested the IAEA emergency meeting should call for a special U.N. Security Council session to debate Iran's case, but that there be no formal referral to the council at that time.

He acknowledged "We're talking to the Russians" about the proposal, which would have the Iran case return to IAEA jurisdiction after the Security Council debate. But he said there were many unanswered questions and no decision.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin did not specify what action they expected the IAEA to take at its February 2 meeting.

"There is the issue of whether it goes to the U.N. Security Council -- this is a question that has to be answered," Merkel said. "I think we have to think step by step, and above all send a signal to Iran that shows the international community won't accept it if Iran doesn't respect the commitments that are expected of it and the promises it has made."

Villepin said a referral to the Security Council could not be excluded "today" but suggested the door remained open for further diplomacy.

Iran slammed the European draft resolution.

"It is clear this is politically motivated," the Iranian president said when asked about the text drafted by France, Britain and Germany that diplomats said had so far only been seen by U.S. and EU officials.

"We are asking them to step down from their ivory towers and act with a little logic," the 48-year-old leader told reporters.

The West suspects Iran is seeking nuclear arms. Tehran says its atomic program aims only to generate electricity.

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