Drive for UN sanctions against Iran opposed

A US-European drive to refer Iran to the UN Security Council is encountering fierce opposition and could be postponed despite deep concerns about Tehran’s nuclear agenda.

Just days before planned action on referral, diplomats and officials said the idea of giving Iran a deadline of several weeks to comply with international demands on its nuclear activities is gaining favour.

“It would not be a change in policy but a change in timing,” said one European official about the possibility of delaying - but not withdrawing - the UN Security Council threat. There has been strong opposition from more than a dozen nations on the board of the Vienna-based International Atomic Energy Agency to a demand for referral at next week’s board meeting.