Western and developing nations broadly accept a UN nuclear agency plan to cut almost half its aid projects in Iran, diplomats say.
The plan, to cut technical aid projects based on a review by International Atomic Energy Agency experts, must be approved at a March 5th-9th meeting of the IAEA's 35-nation board of governors.
But members ranging from Iran's arch-foe the United States to its close ally Cuba raised no objections when IAEA aides, at a briefing this week, explained their criteria for shutting down some projects while continuing others, diplomats said.
"No one is totally satisfied. But the review is as balanced as can be under the circumstances. I see no one wanting to pick a fight when the board convenes," a senior diplomat from the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), which includes Iran, said.
Iran was hit with UN sanctions over its failure to prove to the IAEA that its efforts to enrich uranium are aimed only towards generating electricity as it maintains. Western powers suspect Iran wants to produce fuel suitable for atom bombs.
The December 23rd resolution bans transfers of sensitive nuclear materials and expertise to Iran as well as IAEA technical aid if it has any possible use in yielding atomic fuel.
Of the 55 IAEA aid projects in Iran, 10 were frozen and 12 others restricted to comply with the sanctions.