VIENNA, Austria – The European Union accused Iran on Thursday of having documents that show how to make nuclear warheads and joined the United States in warning Tehran it faced referral to the U.N. Security Council for possible sanctions.
Iran, meanwhile, suggested it was considering a compromise to reduce tensions.
Britain, in a statement on behalf of the 25-nation bloc, offered new negotiations meant to lessen concerns over Iran’s insistence it be in full control of uranium enrichment – a possible pathway to nuclear arms.
“But Iran should not conclude that this window of opportunity will remain open in all circumstances,” said a statement read by Peter Jenkins, the chief British delegate to the International Atomic Energy Agency, outside a closed meeting of the 35-nation board.
Diplomats described the statement as a veiled threat of Security Council referral.
Gregory Schulte, the chief U.S. representative to the Vienna-based IAEA, said separately that Iran cannot avoid referral to the Security Council for violating the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty but added that Washington and its European allies were delaying such a move to give Tehran a chance to defuse fears it wants to make nuclear arms.
For months, Iran has relied on Beijing and Moscow to fend off a U.S.-backed push to have it hauled before the Security Council. But the Russians are now working with the Americans and Europeans to push a compromise enrichment plan, and officials recently told AP that China also is moving closer to the Western position.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
