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| Iran nuclear issue is 'deep concern' - world powers | Iran nuclear issue is 'deep concern' - world powers |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| World powers have agreed a draft resolution, which expresses "increasing concern" over Iran's controversial nuclear programme. | World powers have agreed a draft resolution, which expresses "increasing concern" over Iran's controversial nuclear programme. |
| The document by the five permanent members of the UN Security Council and Germany comes amid fears of "possible military dimensions" to the programme. | The document by the five permanent members of the UN Security Council and Germany comes amid fears of "possible military dimensions" to the programme. |
| The text is to be discussed at a meeting of the UN nuclear watchdog, the IAEA, later this week. | The text is to be discussed at a meeting of the UN nuclear watchdog, the IAEA, later this week. |
| The IAEA proposes sending a high-level mission to Iran to address the fears. | The IAEA proposes sending a high-level mission to Iran to address the fears. |
| Tehran says its programme is for peaceful purposes. | Tehran says its programme is for peaceful purposes. |
| 'Restoring confidence' | 'Restoring confidence' |
| The draft resolution was hammered out by Britain, China, France, Russia, the US and also Germany on Thursday in Vienna, as the International Atomic Energy Agency continues to debate the latest report on Iran released last week in the Austrian capital. | |
| The IAEA's board of governors is made up of representatives from 35 countries. | The IAEA's board of governors is made up of representatives from 35 countries. |
| But essentially just six of these countries get to decide how to deal with Iran: the US, the UK, France, Germany, Russia and China. | But essentially just six of these countries get to decide how to deal with Iran: the US, the UK, France, Germany, Russia and China. |
| In recent years, negotiators from these countries have taken the lead in deciding when to talk to Iran, and when to impose sanctions. | In recent years, negotiators from these countries have taken the lead in deciding when to talk to Iran, and when to impose sanctions. |
| This IAEA board meeting presents a straightforward test: Can the six agree a single response ? | This IAEA board meeting presents a straightforward test: Can the six agree a single response ? |
| The four Western countries would prefer moves towards further sanctions against Iran. But Russia and China are much more reluctant. | The four Western countries would prefer moves towards further sanctions against Iran. But Russia and China are much more reluctant. |
| The draft resolution is a compromise - but it means that the six stay together. | The draft resolution is a compromise - but it means that the six stay together. |
| The draft expresses "deep and increasing concern about the unresolved issues regarding the Iranian nuclear programme, including those which need to be clarified to exclude the existence of possible military dimensions". | The draft expresses "deep and increasing concern about the unresolved issues regarding the Iranian nuclear programme, including those which need to be clarified to exclude the existence of possible military dimensions". |
| The document also "calls on Iran to engage seriously and without preconditions in talks aimed at restoring international confidence in the exclusively peaceful nature" of Tehran's programme. | The document also "calls on Iran to engage seriously and without preconditions in talks aimed at restoring international confidence in the exclusively peaceful nature" of Tehran's programme. |
| However, it stops short of reporting Iran to the UN Security Council, which could impose more sanctions, the BBC's Bethany Bell in Vienna reports. | However, it stops short of reporting Iran to the UN Security Council, which could impose more sanctions, the BBC's Bethany Bell in Vienna reports. |
| IAEA Director General Yukiya Amano earlier said that there might be undeclared nuclear material and activities. | IAEA Director General Yukiya Amano earlier said that there might be undeclared nuclear material and activities. |
| "Our technical experts have spent years painstakingly and objectively analysing a huge quantity of information from a wide variety of independent sources, including from a number of member states, from the agency's own efforts and from information provided by Iran itself. The agency finds the information to be, overall, credible," Mr Amano said in a statement. | "Our technical experts have spent years painstakingly and objectively analysing a huge quantity of information from a wide variety of independent sources, including from a number of member states, from the agency's own efforts and from information provided by Iran itself. The agency finds the information to be, overall, credible," Mr Amano said in a statement. |
| "It is consistent in terms of technical content, individuals and organisations involved, and timeframes. The information indicates that Iran has carried out activities relevant to the development of a nuclear explosive device." | "It is consistent in terms of technical content, individuals and organisations involved, and timeframes. The information indicates that Iran has carried out activities relevant to the development of a nuclear explosive device." |
| Mr Amano expressed hope that a date for the the proposed mission to Iran would be agreed soon. | Mr Amano expressed hope that a date for the the proposed mission to Iran would be agreed soon. |
| The US and its allies want to see stronger sanctions imposed on Iran, but Russia believes the report contains no new evidence - and could hurt the chances for diplomacy, our correspondent says. | The US and its allies want to see stronger sanctions imposed on Iran, but Russia believes the report contains no new evidence - and could hurt the chances for diplomacy, our correspondent says. |
| China says sanctions cannot resolve the issue. | China says sanctions cannot resolve the issue. |
| 'Accident' | 'Accident' |
| On Wednesday, Iranian General Hassan Firouzabadi said that - contrary to speculation - the US and Israel were not behind a weekend munitions base blast that killed 17 Revolutionary Guards, including a key ballistics missile expert. | On Wednesday, Iranian General Hassan Firouzabadi said that - contrary to speculation - the US and Israel were not behind a weekend munitions base blast that killed 17 Revolutionary Guards, including a key ballistics missile expert. |
| "This recent incident and blast has no link to Israel or America, but the outcome of the research, in which the incident happened as a consequence, could be a strong smack to the mouth of Israel and its occupying regime," Gen Firouzabadi was quoted as saying by the student news agency Isna. | "This recent incident and blast has no link to Israel or America, but the outcome of the research, in which the incident happened as a consequence, could be a strong smack to the mouth of Israel and its occupying regime," Gen Firouzabadi was quoted as saying by the student news agency Isna. |
| Iranian officials had previously said the accident happened while munitions were being moved at the base, without linking it directly to weapons research. | Iranian officials had previously said the accident happened while munitions were being moved at the base, without linking it directly to weapons research. |
| Brig Gen Hassan Moqaddam, who was considered a key figure in Iran's missile programme, was the most senior casualty in the incident. | Brig Gen Hassan Moqaddam, who was considered a key figure in Iran's missile programme, was the most senior casualty in the incident. |