The United Nations Security Council would consider sanctions
against Iran if it does not halt uranium enrichment by August 31,
according to a resolution circulated Friday.
According to the text of the draft resolution which was
distributed to the 15 council member nations, the Council will
"adopt appropriate measures under Article 41 of Chapter VII of the
UN Charter to persuade Iran to comply with this resolution and the
requirements of the IAEA."
However, it stresses that further decisions will be required
should such additional measures be necessary."
Britain, China, France, Russia, the United States, Germany drew
up the draft resolution during weeks of painstaking talks.
Russia and China expressed opposition to the mentioning of
sanctions in the resolution. Russian ambassador to the UN Vitaly
Churkin said Friday that no sanction is introduced against Iran in
the draft resolution.
He said if Iran did not respond, the Security Council would then
consider "measures of pressure, like sanctions."
But he noted that there are all possibilities. If Iran gives
positive response, the resolution might become irrelevant, he
said.
Churkin insisted sanctions would be "the next step, a
possibility along with other possibilities."
Earlier on Friday, US ambassador to the UN John Bolton told
reporters that he expected a vote to be taken early next week.
If Iran continues to pursue uranium enrichment, "the next step
will be the consideration of sanctions in the Security Council, and
it would be our intention to move forcefully to get those sanctions
adopted," Bolton said.
The United States and its allies believe that Iran is seeking to
build a nuclear bomb. But Iran has insisted its program is peaceful
and refused to suspend uranium enrichment activities.
The draft resolution calls on Iran to follow IAEA directives
"without further delay."
If passed, it would call on the IAEA director Mohammed ElBaradei
to give a report on whether Iran has complied by August 31.
Diplomats said the resolution would increase pressure on Iran to
respond to an offer of economic and political incentives to halt
its nuclear production that was made by Britain, France and Germany
in June.
Iran has said it will not reply before August 22, nine days
before the proposed UN deadline.
(Xinhua News Agency July 29, 2006)