Security Council warns Iran to suspend uranium enrichment

UNITED NATIONS, Mar 30 (UNI) The UN Security Council has warned Iran to suspend its uranium enrichment activities and to cooperate with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

The 15-member UN Security Council approved a statement on Iran yesterday, after concessions were made to Russia and China, who had voiced concerns that tough action by the Council could result in sanctions against Tehran.

The statement calls on the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to report back to the Council within 30 days.

Earlier in the day, the five permanent Security Council members (United States, Britain, France, China and Russia) agreed on the statement after several weeks of negotiations.

The statement comes on the eve of a meeting in Berlin between top diplomats of Germany, Britain, the United States, Russia, China and France.

Meanwhile, the United States would like to see a strong consensus to stem Iran's nuclear ambitions. It is also seeking Tehran's cooperation on Iraq.

Bush administration officials say they hope the Berlin meeting will prove a political boost for a unified Security Council statement and for plans for a long-term strategy to deal with Iran.

The United States insists the international community must send an unequivocal message to Iran that it will not tolerate any attempt by Tehran to acquire nuclear weapons.

It is a message Washington has been driving home for sometime, dismissing Iranian insistence that it has a right to develop nuclear technology and wants to do so for peaceful purposes only.

State Department spokesman Sean McCormack says, the burden of proof is on Iran.

''We think at this point, the Iranian regime has worn down its trust relationship with the international community to basically zero,'' he said.

UNI XC VJ KP1249