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U.S. predicts U.N. support for sanctions in IranResolution could even allow force
RELATEDYOUR E-MAIL ALERTSPARIS, France (CNN) -- A top U.S. diplomat said he expects the United Nations will soon pass a resolution ordering Iran to suspend its nuclear program. U.S. Undersecretary of State Nicholas Burns predicts that if Iran does not comply with the resolution, there will be a serious attempt to impose another resolution calling for sanctions. Burns spoke to CNN before meeting with his counterparts from France, Britain, Germany, China, Russia and the European Union in Paris. He said he expects full European support for a U.N. Security Council resolution that would allow sanctions or even force. "I think you will see a serious Chapter 7 resolution emerge in the next couple of days at the United Nations," he said. A resolution under the U.N. Charter's Chapter 7 makes any demands mandatory and paves the way for the use of sanctions and possibly force. "I think the process would be a Chapter 7 resolution that would ask the Iranians to suspend their nuclear program. If Iran does not comply with that then I think it is inevitable that you'll see an effort for a sanctions resolution to follow probably in a month or so." But a high-ranking Russian official says Russia will veto any resolution calling for sanctions at this stage, according to The Associated Press. Konstantin Kosachev, a senior Russian lawmaker with close ties to the Kremlin, told Ekho Moskvy radio that he expected agreement on a milder resolution on May 9 at a meeting of foreign ministers in New York, the AP reported. The Paris meeting on Tuesday was being held to discuss a response to a report released last week by the International Atomic Energy Agency that said Iran was violating demands to halt uranium enrichment -- a development that could allow it to create nuclear weapons. But even as the group met in Paris, an Iranian news service quoted Iran's Atomic Energy Agency chief as announcing progress in Iran's uranium enrichment program. Reza Aghazade said the latest level of uranium enrichment reached in Iran was 4.8 percent, according to the dispatch, and emphasized that Iran did not intend to reach 5 percent enrichment. He said Iran knew the level it has now reached is sufficient for producing nuclear energy. In the Iranian news service report, Aghazade said Iran has a new uranium mine in the southern part of the country, and that first estimates are that 30 tons of yellow cake can be produced annually. Yellow cake is refined uranium ore that is ready for enrichment. (Watch Iran's young elite support nuclear goals -- 2:02) While the United States, Britain and France were expected to back heavy trade embargoes, they face resistance from Russia and China, the other veto-wielding council nations. Burns said there is already broad international agreement that Iran should not have a nuclear weapon and should not be allowed to proceed unfettered with a program that could produce nuclear weapons. Iran has already dismissed the prospect of sanctions, saying Russia and China will not agree to them. It has also complained to the United Nations about what it calls "illegal and insolent threats" by Washington, citing President Bush's refusal to rule out a nuclear strike on the country. Iran announced last month it was ready to embark on a large scale uranium enrichment program. It said it is legally entitled under the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty to provide fuel for civilian power plants. The IAEA report released on Friday said that Iran had violated a 30-day Security Council deadline to stop its enrichment program. The council members' discussion of the report in Paris will make its recommendations to a May 9 meeting in New York of foreign ministers from the top Security Council nations and Germany. The United States envisages imposing a restriction of trade in equipment that has both civilian and military uses, as well as the banning of travel and freezing the assets of key Iranians who run and oversee the country's nuclear program. CNN's Jim Bitterman contributed to this report. Copyright 2006 CNN. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Associated Press contributed to this report. 
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