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03/31/2006:

"UN Security Council calls on Iran to suspend enrichment-related activities"

29 March 2006 – Expressing serious concern that the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is unable to conclude that there are no undeclared nuclear materials or activities in Iran, the United Nations Security Council today called upon that country to re-establish full and sustained suspension of all enrichment-related and reprocessing activities, including research and development, in a manner that is verified by the Agency.

“The Security Council expresses the conviction that such suspension and full and verified Iranian compliance would contribute to a diplomatic, negotiated solution that guarantees Iran’s nuclear programme is for exclusively peaceful purposes,” the Council said through a statement read out by its March President César Mayoral of Argentina.
un.org


Iran rejects call to halt enrichment
Iran refused Thursday to comply with a UN Security Council demand to freeze uranium enrichment, defying a call by major world powers to curb its nuclear program or face isolation. Iran struck the defiant stance as foreign ministers of the Security Council's permanent members plus Germany met in Berlin to chart their next moves in the standoff.

The meeting came a day after the Security Council adopted a statement calling for an enrichment freeze and a report from the IAEA on Iranian compliance in 30 days.

But Iran swiftly hit back. "Iran's decision on enrichment, particularly research and development is irreversible," Iranian ambassador to the IAEA Aliasghar Soltanieh in Vienna said.

Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki, speaking at the Geneva-based Conference on Disarmament, slammed the UN declaration as an "angry precedent" and a "bad move."

He said the International Atomic Energy Agency should be left to handle the case and described the council request for an IAEA report as "nothing short of injustice, double standards and power politics."

But he added that "we are willing to continue with negotiations [with the IAEA] and also continue with our sincere and constructive cooperation with the agency," Mottaki said.


World powers discuss next steps in Iran crisis
BERLIN (Reuters) - Six world powers were gathering in Berlin on Thursday to discuss the next steps in dealing with Iran's nuclear programme, with Russia and China looking for assurances that there are no plans to use force against Tehran.

On Wednesday, the U.N. Security Council unanimously adopted a "presidential statement" calling on Iran to freeze its uranium enrichment programme, which can produce fuel for atom bombs. It also requests a report in 30 days from the U.N. nuclear watchdog in Vienna on Iran's cooperation with the agency's demands.

The Council statement was the product of weeks of negotiations among the five veto-wielding permanent members of the Security Council -- Britain, France, China, Russia and the United States. The final text was softened to remove language Moscow and Beijing feared could lead to punitive measures.