World powers draft resolution on Iran for IAEA meet: diplomats

VIENNA (AFP) — World powers have drafted a resolution to be voted on by the UN atomic watchdog later this week condemning Iran for concealing a second uranium enrichment site, diplomats said on Tuesday.

The five permanent members of the United States Security Council -- Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States -- plus Germany have drawn up a draft resolution to put to the 35-nation board of the International Atomic Energy Agency at a two-day meeting starting Thursday, a western diplomat told AFP.

But it was not yet certain whether the text would win the support of the majority of board members in negotiations ahead of the meeting, so the so-called P5+1 may finally decide to issue it merely as a statement rather than put it to the vote, another diplomat said.

Both spoke on condition of anonymity, given the sensitive nature of the matter.

The IAEA has not adopted a resolution on Iran since February 2006. But Iran's shock revelation in September that it has been building a second enrichment plant -- in defiance of UN sanctions to halt uranium enrichment altogether -- has enraged even Russia and China, which have previously been reluctant to join western ... // 55% Remaining