UN: The United Nations Security Council met behind closed doors to discuss a draft resolution on Iran's alleged nuclear weapons programme yesterday as Tehran announced it had enriched uranium to a new level.
Gholamreza Aghazadeh, head of Iran's nuclear industry, said Iran had enriched uranium to 4.8 per cent a month after the president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, revealed scientists had enriched it to 3.6 per cent. Uranium enrichment to much higher levels is essential for a nuclear weapons capability.
Britain and France, backed by the US, put forward a draft resolution that would make it mandatory for Iran to suspend its uranium enrichment programme. If Iran failed to comply, they could impose sanctions. The 15-member council, as expected, broke up without agreement.
The draft resolution includes a deadline. This would involve Mohamed ElBaradei, head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, the UN watchdog, being asked again by the Security Council to report on whether Iran had suspended its uranium nuclear programme.
Foreign ministers from the US, Britain, France, Germany, Russia and China are to meet over dinner in New York on Monday to try to reach consensus.
Russia and China are worried the resolution will be used as a fast track to sanctions. They are opposed to sanctions, at least at this stage.
At a meeting with the US and Europeans in Paris on Tuesday, Russia and China said there was nothing in a report from Mr ElBaradei to the Security Council last Friday to justify a move to sanctions.
Angela Merkel, the German chancellor, flew to Washington last night for talks today with President Bush on Iran.
John Bolton, US ambassador to the UN, said on Tuesday that if the Security Council could not agree on a resolution, the US and its European allies could go it alone on sanctions.
These could include a ban on export of technology with civilian and military uses, a travel ban on Iranian officials and a possible ban on arms sales, but not oil sanctions, said Nicholas Burns, a senior US State Department official.
Mr Burns spoke in Paris where senior foreign ministry officials of the five permanent council members and Germany held a strategy meeting on Tuesday but made no headway.
He expressed frustration with Russia and China, saying it was time for countries with close ties to Iran "to take responsibilities". Russia and China fear too much pressure on Iran would be self-defeating or precipitate an oil crisis. They also worry that the US could use a tough council resolution to justify military action.