US sees UNSC dealing 'actively' with Iran

Washington, Mar 07: The United States yesterday (Mar 06, 2006) dismissed the possibility that Iran might be allowed to continue small-scale nuclear enrichment and predicted the UN Security Council will take up Iran's case, barring a 'dramatic about-face' by Tehran.

Undersecretary of State Nicholas Burns, speaking as the International Atomic Energy Agency governing board met to decide the next steps on Iran, said Tehran had 'gone too far' and engaged in unacceptable nuclear enrichment activities.

''So unless there is dramatic about-face, I suspect the IAEA board is going to confirm the judgment of 30 days ago, in early February, and then this issue will now be taken up quite actively by the UN Security Council and that's where it should be,'' Burns told the conservative Heritage Foundation.

The IAEA's 35-member board reported Iran to the Security Council a month ago. It urged Iran to heed resolutions to halt uranium enrichment work and stop stonewalling IAEA inquiries.

Tomorrow, the IAEA board will consider IAEA chief Mohammed ElBaradei's latest report before it is sent to the council, which might eventually consider sanctions if diplomacy fails.

ElBaradei said today a deal to defuse a standoff over Iran's nuclear aims was still possible, with diplomats outlining a compromise that would let Tehran pursue some atomic research.

State Department spokesman Tom Casey said he was unaware of any specific small-scale enrichment proposal for Iran.

He told reporters: ''You can't be just a little pregnant. You can't have the regime pursuing enrichment on any scale, because pursuing enrichment on any scale allows them to master the technology, complete the fuel cycle and then that technology can easily be applied to a clandestine program for making nuclear weapons.''

White House spokesman Scott McClellan complained that Iran continued to make provocative statements and take provocative actions, and said Tehran 'can't be trusted' because it hid its programs for nearly two decades.

Iran has complained of double standards; India, Israel and Pakistan enjoy good ties with the West even though they built atom bombs in secret.

Burns did not refer to Israel and Pakistan, but rejected comparisons with India, saying Iran is an autocratic state that is ''irresponsible,'' while India is a 'responsible' democracy.

Although shunned by the United States for 30 years for developing nuclear weapons and not signing the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, India is now considered a US strategic partner. The two sides have signed a landmark civilian nuclear agreement that opens the door for India to obtain US and other foreign nuclear technology.

Reuters