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US says Iran delay could lead to UN Security Council action
AFP
WASHINGTON
Petroleumworld.com 07 07 06
The US State Department said Thursday that Iran faced UN Security Council action if it failed to join international negotiations over its nuclear program
"There's the positive pathway. There's a negative pathway (that) leads to further isolation," said US State Department spokesman Sean McCormack even as Iran said it had no plans to respond in ongoing talks in Brussels to an international offer to curb its atomic plans.
McCormack said world powers had put together "a good, comprehensive" proposal to Iran that affirmed its right to develop nuclear energy and supported its building of light-water reactors.
Iran in return would suspend all uranium enrichment-related activity that it now views as its sovereign right but which Washington fears is a cover for an illicit nuclear weapons program.
Washington has been trying to pressure Iran to respond to the offer before the Group of Eight summit of industrialized nations meets for a July 15 in Saint Petersburg but some Iranian officials said no reply could be expected next week either.
"There's agreement among all the ministers about where this heads if the Iranians don't meet the conditions, and that is down the pathway of the Security Council," McCormack said.
Russia and China have both opposed Security Council sanctions against Iran and Russian President Vladimir Putin reiterated Moscow's position on Thursday.
AFP 06 2039 GMT 07 06
Copyright ©2006 AFP. All Rights Reserved.
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