IAEA delays decision on Iran nukes
From CNN State Department Producer Elise Labott
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WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The International Atomic Energy Agency's board of governors has delayed a decision on what to do regarding Iran's nuclear situation because members of the board are divided on what, if any action, to take against Tehran, a Western official has said.
The IAEA's Board of Governors met this week Vienna, Austria, where it discussed steps that could include punitive measures by the United Nations Security ouncil if Iran is deemed in non-compliance with a September directive that it stop all its nuclear reprocessing and enrichment activities.
Last week, the IAEA released a 30-page report that detailed how Iran finally admitted to producing small amounts of low-enriched uranium and plutonium.
But at the same time, the IAEA said there was "no evidence" that those previously undeclared materials were "related to a nuclear weapons program."
The Board of Governors was expected to finish its meeting this week, but the Western official said the board was divided over the language of a resolution on Iran.
The Western official said at issue is whether the final resolution on Iran should contain a "trigger" mechanism, which would automatically refer action by the IAEA if Iran did not take several further steps to cooperate with the agency.
Iran earlier this month promised to allow tougher nuclear inspections in the country and to suspend its uranium enrichment program.
The Bush administration wanted the IAEA to declare Tehran in violation of its obligations under the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty and report it to the U.N. Security Council.
The official said in addition to the United States, Japan, Australia, Canada and the Netherlands are pressing for tough language pressuring Iran to take further action to cooperate, including suspending its enrichment program.
The nuclear watchdog did this week endorse Iran's promise to sign an additional protocol on the Nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty.
