UN nuke agency rebukes Iran over “procrastination”September 13, 2012 - 21:56 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - The UN nuclear agency has rebuked Iran for failing to stop atomic activity, BBC News said. The board of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) expressed "serious concern" about Tehran's refusal to suspend uranium enrichment. Iran insists that its nuclear programme is peaceful in purpose but the US, Israel and other states fear it is building nuclear weapons. Thirty-one out of 35 member states voted in favour of the resolution, one voted against and three abstained. Cuba opposed the measure and Egypt, Ecuador and Tunisia abstained. All four countries are members of the Non-Aligned Movement, of which Iran is currently the rotating president. Another member of the movement, South Africa, had introduced an amendment on a minor change of wording that resulted in a delay of several hours. A total of six resolutions against Iran have been passed by the UN Security Council, four with sanctions attached. The IAEA's resolution was proposed by the United States, China, Russia, Germany, France and the United Kingdom. This move is a display of unity by the six world powers, says the BBC's Bethany Bell, in Vienna. It also increases the pressure on Iran at a time when Israel has stepped up hints about a possible military strike, our correspondent adds. The US and EU have also imposed additional, unilateral sanctions that have targeted Iran's vital oil exports. Last weekend, EU foreign ministers said they were considering additional measures. On Thursday, in its statement to the board, the 27-nation bloc described Iran's "procrastination" as "unacceptable". "Iran has not engaged seriously and without preconditions in talks aimed at restoring international confidence in the exclusively peaceful nature of its nuclear programme," it said. The IAEA has held a series of high-profile meetings with Iran that began in January to agree how to carry out its investigations. But its Director General Yukiya Amano said this week that no concrete results had been achieved and called the lack of progress "frustrating". Top stories Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Moscow on April 22 to hold talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". Partner news | Armenia PM meets Iran’s Supreme Leader in Tehran Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan had a meeting with Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Seyyed Ali Khamenei Ruling MP accuses opposition of “serving other countries' interests” Khachatur Sukiasyan has accused Armenia’s opposition of serving the interests of other countries Protest leader vows to achieve departure of Armenian authorities According to Archbishop Bagrat, there is only one solution to the situation in Armenia. Heads of Armenian, Ukrainian parliaments hold virtual talks Alen Simonyan and Ruslan Stefanchuk held talks via video conference on Tuesday, May 21. |