West softens UN draft on Iran to win over Russia

UNITED NATIONS, Mar 29 (Reuters) Western powers watered down a draft U N Security Council on reining in Iran's nuclear ambitions but still called on Tehran to suspend uranium-enrichment efforts that could be used to make a bomb.

The text, obtained by Reuters, was distributed to the full U N Security Council by Britain and France, who drafted the compromise document supported by the United States.

The three Western nations hope to convince Russia and China to agree on the document today, a day before their foreign ministers meet in Berlin on strategy towards Iran.

But Russia, which has the toughest position, and China, have not signed on to all points in the new Security Council draft so the West's self-imposed deadline may not be met.

Ambassadors from the United States, Britain, France, Russia and China, permanent council members with veto power, met three times today on Iran's nuclear research, which Tehran says is for peaceful purposes but the West believes is a cover for bomb making.

REUTERS PDS RN0602