World powers seek to step up diplomatic pressure on Iran

PanARMENIAN.Net - Six world powers at a United Nations nuclear meeting on Wednesday, Sept 12, sought to step up diplomatic pressure on Iran to allay concerns that it is seeking atomic bombs capability and help avert a new Middle East war, according to Reuters.

A day after Israel's prime minister ramped up threats to attack the Islamic state, the United States, France, Russia, Germany, China and Britain proposed that Iran be rebuked over its expanded uranium enrichment program, diplomats said.

The six states - involved in a stalled diplomatic push to convince Iran to curb its nuclear program - submitted a proposed resolution to the 35-nation governing board of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which is expected to vote on it later this week.

Backing by the six powers means approval by the board is guaranteed, but Western diplomats are keen to ensure as broad support as possible in a bid to intensify international pressure on Tehran, which they suspect wants to develop a nuclear weapons capability. Iran says its work is peaceful.

The draft text expressed "serious concern" about Iran's defiance of UN demands to suspend atomic activity which can have both civilian and military purposes.

It voiced particular concern about Fordow, an Iranian enrichment site deep underground where an IAEA report in late August said the Islamic state had doubled its capacity over the last three months, the diplomats said.

Iran says its wants to produce electricity and not bombs. Refined uranium can be used to fuel nuclear power plants. If enriched to a high degree, it can provide the explosive core for a nuclear warhead.

An IAEA investigation into suspected atom bomb research in Iran has made little progress since 2008, with Western diplomats accusing Tehran of stonewalling.