IAEA Springs Into Action, Postpones “Rebuke”
Charles Johnson
Wed Aug 10, 2005 at 7:33 am PDT • Views: 153
The International Atomic Energy Agency is considering holding a meeting to discuss a possible negotiation to tentatively issue a stern warning to the mullahs of Iran: Iran May Draw Rebuke Over Nuke Activities.
Just not today.
VIENNA, Austria - The U.N. nuclear watchdog postponed a meeting Wednesday so diplomats could seek consensus over how to rebuke Iran for resuming activities that could lead to an atomic weapon, even as U.N. seals were broken on equipment at a uranium conversion plant in Iran.
International Atomic Energy Agency board members were seeking to persuade Iran to reimpose a voluntary suspension of uranium conversion and enrichment. They have the authority to report Iran to the U.N. Security Council, which could trigger punitive sanctions, but there was no talk of that at an emergency meeting of the agency’s 35-nation board.
Signaling how difficult it was for delegates to agree on the best response to Tehran’s decision to restart uranium conversion, board members canceled a session tentatively planned for Wednesday afternoon. It was unclear when the meeting would resume.
“They need more time,” IAEA spokesman Peter Rickwood said. Diplomats were expected to continue negotiations privately on a resolution urging Iran to suspend its latest nuclear activities.
Frank says: