UN powers said close to deal on Iran

UNITED NATIONS – The five UN Security Council powers are close to a deal on Iran’s suspect nuclear programme and hope for approval of a new draft statement when the full council meets on Wednesday, diplomats said.

Britain and France, backed by the United States, distributed a revised text late on Tuesday to all 15 Security Council members that makes concessions to Russia and China. But it still calls on Iran to suspend uranium enrichment efforts, which the West believes are a cover for bomb making.”We have reached agreement on the bulk of the text, so there was movement on all sides.And now we need to see whether we can cross this last bridge, but we’re very close,” US Ambassador John Bolton told reporters on Tuesday.”We have been incredibly flexible.Incredibly flexible.I probably have never been more flexible,” Bolton said of the compromises.The Security Council consulted yesterday afternoon after the five powers meet again.The hope is that the statement will be adopted then or at least be ready for approval early on Thursday when foreign ministers of the five council powers and Germany meet in Berlin to discuss strategy toward Iran.But not all issues have been settled and a presidential statement, compared to a resolution, needs the approval of all 15 nations with seats on the council.Negotiations have stretched over three weeks on the statement, which is nonbinding and threatens no punitive measures.But Russia, backed by China, fear Security Council involvement will lay the groundwork for tougher action, such as sanctions, which they have vowed to oppose.The International Atomic Energy Agency, the Vienna-based UN nuclear watchdog, referred the Iranian dossier to the council on March 8 after Tehran resumed nuclear fuel work.- Nampa-ReutersBut it still calls on Iran to suspend uranium enrichment efforts, which the West believes are a cover for bomb making.”We have reached agreement on the bulk of the text, so there was movement on all sides.And now we need to see whether we can cross this last bridge, but we’re very close,” US Ambassador John Bolton told reporters on Tuesday.”We have been incredibly flexible.Incredibly flexible.I probably have never been more flexible,” Bolton said of the compromises.The Security Council consulted yesterday afternoon after the five powers meet again.The hope is that the statement will be adopted then or at least be ready for approval early on Thursday when foreign ministers of the five council powers and Germany meet in Berlin to discuss strategy toward Iran.But not all issues have been settled and a presidential statement, compared to a resolution, needs the approval of all 15 nations with seats on the council.Negotiations have stretched over three weeks on the statement, which is nonbinding and threatens no punitive measures.But Russia, backed by China, fear Security Council involvement will lay the groundwork for tougher action, such as sanctions, which they have vowed to oppose.The International Atomic Energy Agency, the Vienna-based UN nuclear watchdog, referred the Iranian dossier to the council on March 8 after Tehran resumed nuclear fuel work.- Nampa-Reuters