United Nations – The U.N. Security Council unanimously approved a statement Wednesday demanding that Iran suspend uranium enrichment, the first time the powerful body has directly urged Tehran to clear up suspicions that it is seeking nuclear weapons.
The statement, which is not legally binding, will ask the U.N. nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency, to report back in 30 days on Iran’s compliance with demands to stop enriching uranium, a process that can lead to a nuclear weapon.
Diplomats would not say exactly what will happen if Iran does not comply within 30 days.
The document was adopted by consensus and without a vote after a flurry of negotiations among the five veto-wielding members of the 15-nation council, which has the power to impose sanctions.
In the end, Britain, France and the United States made several concessions to China and Russia, Iran’s allies, who wanted as mild a statement as possible.
The 15 members of the council planned to meet later Wednesday to approve the statement, the text of which was not immediately disclosed.
Tehran insists its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes.
