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By EDITH M. LEDERER, AP
UNITED NATIONS (May 6) - The United States said Saturday it was prepared to bring a U.N. resolution on Iran's nuclear program to a vote - with or without Russia and China's support - but was still seeking to bridge differences and win unanimous Security Council approval.
After an informal meeting at Britain's U.N. Mission, council members said they made progress in a paragraph-by-paragraph discussion of the draft resolution. Britain's U.N. Ambassador Emyr Jones Parry acknowledged, however, that the most contentious issues were not discussed in detail.
"We are still working to achieve unanimity ... but we're prepared to go to a vote without it," U.S. Ambassador John Bolton said. "We're not prepared to extend these negotiations endlessly ... I think it's realistic to consider this for a vote next week."
The resolution, co-sponsored by Britain and France and backed by the U.S., would make mandatory the previous Security Council demands that Iran suspend uranium enrichment, plutonium reprocessing, and construction of a heavy-water nuclear reactor.
The draft states that the "proliferation risk" posed by Iran constitutes a threat to international peace and security, and the resolution would be adopted under Chapter 7 of the U.N. Charter, which can be enforced by sanctions - or if necessary - military action.
Russia and China, which both have veto power, and some nonpermanent members contend that there is no evidence that Iran is pursuing nuclear weapons - as the U.S. and its allies believe - and they object to the call for possible "further measures" to ensure Tehran's compliance.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov discussed "the search for a diplomatic solution of the Iranian nuclear problem" with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement Saturday.
"It is too early to say which changes should be made to the draft resolution to satisfy Russia," Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Kislyak said in Moscow on Saturday, according to the RIA Novosti, ITAR-Tass and Interfax news agencies.
Bolton said he had told the Russians and Chinese four days ago to come up with some creative way to make the resolution mandatory without Chapter 7, and was still waiting for their proposals.
"There's no dispute about the basic course of conduct that we want Iran to pursue," he said.
But Jones Parry said he did not envision a resolution without Chapter 7.
Qatar's U.N. Ambassador Nassir Al-Nasser said after Saturday's meeting that "the text language for some delegations is very unacceptable" and he is waiting for a revised text.
Tanzania's U.N. Ambassador Augustine Mahiga said the resolution should strengthen the role of the IAEA, remove the threat of further action, and "incorporate some inducements for Iranians to cooperate."
Jones Parry said he and France's U.N. Ambassador Jean-Marc de La Sabliere would now reflect on the suggestions made by council members.
"We have no intention of producing a new text at this stage," Jones Parry said, adding that the co-sponsors were still open to consider possible amendments.
Neither Jones Parry nor Bolton would predict when a revised text would be introduced.
De La Sabliere said the council would meet again on Monday, ahead of a meeting Monday evening of foreign ministers of the six key players on the Iran nuclear issue - the U.S., Britain, France, Russia, China and Germany. Supporters of the resolution had hoped it would be adopted before that gathering.
"We are moving in the right direction," de La Sabliere said. "I think we have made some progress, but there is still a lot of work to do."
Bolton said he expects the ministers to talk about "the longer term policy that we need to pursue to stop Iran from achieving a nuclear weapons capability, and I think they could have that discussion on the assumption that this resolution will be adopted next week."
In Saudi Arabia, six of Iran's Persian Gulf neighbors urged Tehran on Saturday to be frank with them about its nuclear program.
The gathering discussed developments in Iran, Iraq and combatting terrorism, United Arab Emirates Foreign Minister Sheik Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan told journalists.
"Iran should be transparent in dealing with the region," regarding its nuclear program, Al Nahyan said.
UNITED NATIONS (May 6) - The United States said Saturday it was prepared to bring a U.N. resolution on Iran's nuclear program to a vote - with or without Russia and China's support - but was still seeking to bridge differences and win unanimous Security Council approval.
After an informal meeting at Britain's U.N. Mission, council members said they made progress in a paragraph-by-paragraph discussion of the draft resolution. Britain's U.N. Ambassador Emyr Jones Parry acknowledged, however, that the most contentious issues were not discussed in detail.
"We are still working to achieve unanimity ... but we're prepared to go to a vote without it," U.S. Ambassador John Bolton said. "We're not prepared to extend these negotiations endlessly ... I think it's realistic to consider this for a vote next week."
The resolution, co-sponsored by Britain and France and backed by the U.S., would make mandatory the previous Security Council demands that Iran suspend uranium enrichment, plutonium reprocessing, and construction of a heavy-water nuclear reactor.
The draft states that the "proliferation risk" posed by Iran constitutes a threat to international peace and security, and the resolution would be adopted under Chapter 7 of the U.N. Charter, which can be enforced by sanctions - or if necessary - military action.
Russia and China, which both have veto power, and some nonpermanent members contend that there is no evidence that Iran is pursuing nuclear weapons - as the U.S. and its allies believe - and they object to the call for possible "further measures" to ensure Tehran's compliance.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov discussed "the search for a diplomatic solution of the Iranian nuclear problem" with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement Saturday.
"It is too early to say which changes should be made to the draft resolution to satisfy Russia," Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Kislyak said in Moscow on Saturday, according to the RIA Novosti, ITAR-Tass and Interfax news agencies.
Bolton said he had told the Russians and Chinese four days ago to come up with some creative way to make the resolution mandatory without Chapter 7, and was still waiting for their proposals.
"There's no dispute about the basic course of conduct that we want Iran to pursue," he said.
But Jones Parry said he did not envision a resolution without Chapter 7.
Qatar's U.N. Ambassador Nassir Al-Nasser said after Saturday's meeting that "the text language for some delegations is very unacceptable" and he is waiting for a revised text.
Tanzania's U.N. Ambassador Augustine Mahiga said the resolution should strengthen the role of the IAEA, remove the threat of further action, and "incorporate some inducements for Iranians to cooperate."
Jones Parry said he and France's U.N. Ambassador Jean-Marc de La Sabliere would now reflect on the suggestions made by council members.
"We have no intention of producing a new text at this stage," Jones Parry said, adding that the co-sponsors were still open to consider possible amendments.
Neither Jones Parry nor Bolton would predict when a revised text would be introduced.
De La Sabliere said the council would meet again on Monday, ahead of a meeting Monday evening of foreign ministers of the six key players on the Iran nuclear issue - the U.S., Britain, France, Russia, China and Germany. Supporters of the resolution had hoped it would be adopted before that gathering.
"We are moving in the right direction," de La Sabliere said. "I think we have made some progress, but there is still a lot of work to do."
Bolton said he expects the ministers to talk about "the longer term policy that we need to pursue to stop Iran from achieving a nuclear weapons capability, and I think they could have that discussion on the assumption that this resolution will be adopted next week."
In Saudi Arabia, six of Iran's Persian Gulf neighbors urged Tehran on Saturday to be frank with them about its nuclear program.
The gathering discussed developments in Iran, Iraq and combatting terrorism, United Arab Emirates Foreign Minister Sheik Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan told journalists.
"Iran should be transparent in dealing with the region," regarding its nuclear program, Al Nahyan said.