Iran nuclear resolution agreed
From CNN State Department Producer Elise Labott
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The United States has reached an agreement with key European allies, as well as Canada and Australia, on a draft resolution on Iran's nuclear program, the State Department has said.
The resolution calls on Iran to clarify outstanding issues related to its nuclear program, including its highly enriched uranium program, by November 25, the next time the International Atomic Energy Agency board meets.
"It's a text that all six countries can live with," the diplomat close to the talks told Reuters late on Thursday.
France, Britain and Germany were the EU's "big three" involved in the discussions.
It also calls on Iran to immediately suspend all uranium enrichment and centrifuge activities.
If Iran does not comply, the resolution states, the board will "decide whether or not further steps are appropriate in relation to Iran's obligations" to the nuclear non-proliferation treaty, a Bush administration official said.
The resolution still has to be approved by most of the IAEA's governing board of 35 nations.
Iran maintains its enrichment program is devoted to peaceful purposes to produce nuclear energy, not nuclear weapons.
The United States had wanted to refer Iran to the United Nations to face possible sanctions if it did not comply with demands.
But after days of talks in Vienna, Austria, the countries agreed on this language as "a compromise" to the Europeans, the official said.
The official still praised the resolution as a "strong text" and a "remarkable achievement," and said Australia was instrumental in brokering the deal.
U.S. officials told CNN earlier this week there was "no evidence" any nuclear work had been done at an Iranian military complex near Tehran.
A report by ABC News in the U.S. said Iran "may be taking steps toward developing a nuclear device" at the site, known as Parchin. (Full story)
The U.N. atomic watchdog agency says weapons inspectors have not uncovered evidence to support accusations that Iran has a secret nuclear weapons program. (Full story)
