European powers began circulating a draft resolution yesterday that asks the UN nuclear watchdog to report Iran to the Security Council, though diplomats said any UN sanctions would be a long way off.
 
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad dismissed the move. "It is clear this is politically motivated," he told reporters when asked about the text drafted by France, Britain and Germany.

"We are asking they step down from their ivory towers and act with a little logic," he added.

The West suspects Iran is seeking nuclear arms. Teheran, which resumed uranium enrichment research last week, says its nuclear program aims only to generate electricity.

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said nuclear weapons were against Islamic teachings, as well as Iranian interests, but he vowed to pursue atomic energy.

"The Islamic Republic, based on its principles, without being scared of the fuss created, will continue on its path of scientific developments and the world cannot influence the Iranian nation's will," state television quoted him as saying.

"The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has accepted that we are now part of the atomic club," said Khamenei.

Britain, France and Germany want the IAEA's 35-nation board to meet on February 2-3 to vote on a draft resolution that would refer Iran to the Security Council, ratcheting up diplomatic pressure on Teheran and opening the door to eventual sanctions.

US and European officials say a majority on the IAEA board favours referral, but they want as much support as they can muster from countries like Russia, China and other sceptics.

An EU diplomat said the draft text asks Iran "to help the (IAEA) clarify questions regarding possible nuclear weapons activities" and calls on IAEA chief Mohamed ElBaradei "to transmit a copy of this resolution to the Security Council."

Limited options

Some Western officials have said they believe simply hauling Iran to the Security Council for censure could prompt a change of heart in Teheran.

Any move to use full-scale sanctions against Iran, let alone military action, could send world oil prices rocketing and reopen some of the international rifts opened by the Iraq War.

For now, European powers are working closely with Washington on tackling Iran's nuclear ambitions, their unity reinforced by Teheran's rebuffs to their diplomatic efforts and by Ahmadinejad's calls for the destruction of Israel.

Russia and China, veto-wielding members of the Security Council, share some of the West's concerns, but both oppose UN sanctions.

The chief of France's defence staff said the idea of Iran possessing a nuclear weapon was "a real nightmare" but added that a negotiated solution remained possible and that any hasty resort to military action would be "completely mad."

"That would create a dreadful drama in the Middle East," General Henri Bentegeat told Europe 1 radio. "Maybe one day we will get to that point. But today it is exclusively the diplomats who are having their say."

The EU draft asks IAEA chief Mohamed ElBaradei to keep up inspections to try to provide "credible assurances regarding the absence of undeclared nuclear materials and activities in Iran."

The text, being circulated among key IAEA board members, may undergo changes as they discuss it.

(China Daily January 19, 2006)