UN voices 'deep concern' over Iran's nuclear plans

The UN's nuclear watchdog has passed a resolution expressing "deep and increasing concern" about Iran's nuclear programme.

The IAEA resolution called on Tehran to clear up outstanding questions about its nuclear capabilities.

A recent IAEA report said Iran had carried out tests "relevant to the development of a nuclear device".

Iran's envoy to the IAEA said the resolution would only serve to strengthen Iran's resolve.

"It will be business as usual... We will continue our work as before," Ali Ashgar Soltanieh told reporters.

Iran insists that it is enriching uranium only to use as fuel for nuclear power stations. However, the US and its allies believe it is trying to develop a nuclear weapon.

The resolution was adopted by 32 votes against two - Cuba and Ecuador.

It called on Iran to answer outstanding questions about its nuclear programme "without delay" but stopped short of referring Iran to the UN Security Council.
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Analysis
image of James Reynolds James Reynolds BBC Iran correspondent

The IAEA board has voted to express its deep concern about Iran and asked Director General Yukiya Amano to report back in March. But it has not referring Iran to the UN for further sanctions. In other words, criticism but no immediate action.

This is the result of a compromise agreed among the six countries which routinely take the lead in talks with Iran - the US, the UK, France, Germany, Russia, and China. The four Western countries would have preferred moves towards more sanctions but Russia and China said no. Instead, a resolution criticising Iran was drawn up.

Western diplomats are happy that the six countries have agreed a single response to Iran. But it is not yet clear what kind of impact a statement of criticism will have on the government of the Islamic Republic.

The resolution said it was "essential for Iran and the Agency to intensify their dialogue".

US envoy to the IAEA Glyn Davies rejected criticism that the resolution was too weak.

"This resolution... gives us the tools we need to get the job done," he said.

The White House also welcomed the IAEA resolution.

Spokesman Jay Carney said it exposed "the hollowness of Iran's claims" that its nuclear programme was purely for civilian purposes.

The draft resolution was drawn up by the UK, China, France, Russia, the US and also Germany on Thursday in Vienna.

The IAEA has been debating its latest report on Iran - released last week in the Austrian capital.

Tehran has remained defiant over its nuclear programme, threatening to take legal action against the IAEA for issuing its hard-hitting report.

It alleged that the report's findings were made under political pressure from the US.

The IAEA proposes sending a high-level mission to Iran to address the fears.

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