Iran: UN's Big Five Near Agreement On Nuclear Program

by Breffni O'Rourke

Satellite photo of a nuclear facility in Iran (file photo) (AFP)

Weeks of haggling between the UN's leading powers appear close to the end, opening up room for foreign ministers to start a new stage of diplomacy at a March 30 meeting in Berlin.

PRAGUE, March 29, 2006 (RFE/RL) -- The U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, John Bolton, says the five permanent members of the Security Council are "very close" to agreeing on a statement about Iran's controversial nuclear program.

An agreement would end almost three weeks of haggling between Western powers and Russia and China. It would also be the first step towards holding Iran to account for its failure to address fully and transparently the international community's concerns that Tehran is seeking to develop nuclear weapons.

It is hoped a statement can be finalized ahead of a meeting of foreign ministers from the Big Five, plus Germany, in Berlin on March 30.

"We've been able to bring the Russians along to a degree, but we've had to work harder on that and on the Chinese." -- U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice

Responsibility for resolving the crisis was passed by the Security Council on March 8, when the UN's nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), asked the council to determine what action should be taken to prompt Iran to comply with international rules aimed at preventing the proliferation of nuclear weapons.

In remarks to journalists, Bolton indicated that he believes it is high time for the Security Council to "speak clearly" and "to speak soon."

"The council itself understands how important this is not just with respect to Iran's nuclear weapons program, but for the council itself," Bolton said on March 28.

Bolton gave no details of the content of the statement.

However, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice suggested in comments to a U.S. Senate panel on March 28 that there has been a compromise between the Western powers' desire for a specific warning to Tehran, and the Russian and Chinese desire for a milder approach.

"We've been able to bring the Russians along to a degree," she said, "but we've had to work harder on that and on the Chinese."

Rice also reiterated that the United States views Iran as "the single biggest threat from a state" that it faces.

The Splits Within The Security Council

Russian President Vladimir Putin (left) pictured with Chinese President Hu Jintao in Beijing on March 21

As Rice indicated, China is the country most inclined to continue talking to Iran rather than to issue ultimatums. The Chinese Foreign Ministry has welcomed the upcoming Berlin meeting, saying there is still room for negotiations even at this stage.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang told a news conference in Beijing that China would also prefer to keep the issue of Iran's nuclear program within the forum of the IAEA, rather than to elevate it to the status of a matter for the full Security Council.

He also said Beijing hopes the Berlin meeting could lead to a breakthrough, resolving the Iran nuclear issue "appropriately,... through diplomatic means."

Moscow has steered a middle course, between Washington and Beijing. The heart of the dispute is whether Iran should be allowed to continue enriching uranium, a process that, as well as providing fuel to produce electricity, can prepare the way for nuclear weapons.

The West is adamant that Iran must not have this capability, and months ago Russia offered Iran a compromise deal under which Iranian uranium would be enriched in Russia, and not in Iran.

The aim of that proposal would be to make it easier to ensure that no enriched fuel could be diverted to military uses.

The Iranians have toyed with this idea, but given no firm commitment. An exasperated Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov on March 28 called on Tehran to make clear whether it says "yes" or "no" to the plan.

Instead, the Iranian Embassy in Moscow the same day floated the idea of a nuclear fuel enrichment plant on Iranian soil, but with the involvement of other countries. There has so far been no reaction to this suggestion.