IRAN/EU: Iran's nuclear agreement with European governments was endorsed by the governing board of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) yesterday despite resistance from the US, which urged inspectors to remain vigilant.
After days of wrangling, the UN nuclear watchdog passed a mildly worded resolution that avoided the case being referred to the UN Security Council for possible sanctions, as the US had wanted.
Instead, it confirmed the European approach to dealing with Iran. It underlined that Iran had started its promised suspension of uranium enrichment - as agreed mid-month with the UK, France and Germany - in return for co-operation with Europe on nuclear, economic and security issues.
The US wants stringent inspections to ensure Iran complies. The resolution noted that Iran had committed "many breaches" of its safeguard commitments up to October 2003, but had made "good progress" since.
"The implementation and verification of the agreement is critical," said Mr Scott McClellan, White House spokesman. "Iran has failed to comply with its commitments many times and, for this agreement to succeed, the Europeans, the IAEA and the IAEA board of governors, as well as all members of the international community, will need to remain vigilant."
US envoy Ms Jackie Sanders told the IAEA's board of governors that Washington reserved the right to go it alone.
"Quite apart from the question of how this board chooses to handle these matters, of course, the United States reserves all of its options with respect to Security Council consideration of the Iranian nuclear weapons programme," she said.
"Any member of the United Nations may bring to the attention of the Security Council any situation that might endanger the maintenance of international peace and security."
Ms Sanders also issued a stern warning to companies against exporting weapons-related equipment to Iran. The United States "will impose economic burdens on them and brand them as proliferators", she said.
Iran denies US claims that it has a covert weapons programme, but the IAEA says it is "not yet in a position to conclude that there are no undeclared nuclear materials or activities".
Western diplomats in Vienna said the White House was convinced Iran would soon renege on the deal, leaving the UK, France and Germany no option but to back the tougher US approach of trying to contain and isolate Tehran.
European envoys admitted keeping the agreement on track would be a struggle. A similar accord reached last year soon ran into trouble.
This month's deal threatened to unravel last week when Iran asked to continue operating 20 centrifuges, which are used to enrich uranium. European officials said Iran had backed down but statements from Iranian officials were ambiguous.
Dr Mohamed ElBaradei, the IAEA director, said the centrifuges, monitored by IAEA cameras, were "not operating" and that "we clearly would report to the board should there be any change of status".