Iran Six to submit new resolution to IAEA

A group of international mediators on Iran is planning to present a draft resolution on Iran’s nuclear dossier to the International Atomic Energy Agency Board of Governors, a source said on Thursday. The resolution is “well balanced,” he said, adding that Russia seeks to intensify dialog between the agency and Iran. Russia has lately proposed a strategy for “restoring trust in relation to Iran’s nuclear program based on principles of reciprocity and gradualism,” the source said. The Iran Six, including Russia, the United States, China, Britain, France and Germany, have been trying since 2003 to convince Iran to halt its uranium enrichment program. Earlier in the day, IAEA chief Yukiya Amano said the information contained in the Agency’s latest report on the military dimension of Iran's nuclear program is credible. "The Agency finds the information to be, overall, credible. It is consistent in terms of technical content, individuals and organizations involved, and time frames. The information indicates that Iran has carried out activities relevant to the development of a nuclear explosive device," he told the IAEA Board of Governors. Western powers and Israel suspect Iran of seeking to build nuclear weapons. Iran denies this, saying its program is of a civilian nature. Speculation has been building that Israel is considering a preemptive strike on Iran's nuclear facilities. Amano said his report identified in detail the issues which Iran needs to address in order to restore international confidence in what it says is the exclusively peaceful nature of its nuclear program. "I ask Iran to engage substantively with the Agency without delay and provide the requested clarifications regarding possible military dimensions to its nuclear program," he said. The IAEA continues to verify the non-diversion of nuclear material declared by Iran under its Safeguards Agreement, Amano said. "But, as Iran is not providing the necessary cooperation, including by not implementing its Additional Protocol, the Agency is unable to provide credible assurance about the absence of undeclared nuclear material and activities in Iran, and therefore to conclude that all nuclear material in Iran is in peaceful activities," he said. "I urge Iran to take steps towards the full implementation of its Safeguards Agreement and its other obligations," the IAEA director said.