West to push IAEA to declare Iran in breach of nuclear obligations - Reuters

Western powers are preparing to push the International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) Board of Governors to formally declare Iran in breach of its non-proliferation obligations for the first time since 2005, Reuters reported on Friday citing diplomats.

Reuter's report said that United States, Britain, France, and Germany are expected to submit a draft resolution at the board’s next quarterly meeting, beginning June 9, after the UN nuclear watchdog issues a comprehensive report on Iran’s nuclear activities and level of cooperation.

According to Reuters, the report is expected to be critical of Iran, particularly in response to a November board resolution demanding improved cooperation.

“We expect the comprehensive report to be tough, but there were already no doubts over Iran not keeping its non-proliferation commitments,” Reuters quoted one European official as saying.

The United States will draft the resolution declaring Iran in breach of its safeguards obligations once the IAEA report is issued, three diplomats were quoted as saying.

A fourth diplomat said the Western powers were already preparing the draft, though did not specify its language.

The last time the IAEA board took such a step was in September 2005, leading to Iran’s referral to the UN Security Council in February 2006. That referral resulted in a series of UN sanctions on Iran.

“The board has passed all recent resolutions proposed by the Western powers on Iran, and there is little doubt that this one would go through as well. The only question is how large the majority would be,” Reuters quoted a diplomat as saying.

Russia and China are expected to oppose the resolution, as they have with past Western-led efforts