6 Powers Can't Agree on Iran Statement6 world powers give up attempts at joint statement criticizing Iran
after China, Russia balkVIENNA, Austria, Sep. 12, 2006
By GEORGE JAHN Associated Press Writer
(AP) Six world powers abandoned attempts Tuesday to issue a joint statement
criticizing Iran's nuclear defiance after China and Russia refused to endorse
U.S.-backed tough language, diplomats said.
The split, at a 35-nation meeting of the International Atomic Energy Agency's
board, reflected indecision on how to react to Tehran's weekend suggestion
that it might temporarily suspend uranium enrichment _ but only on its own
terms.
-snip-Both, however, have resisted U.S.-led efforts to move to sanctions quickly,
despite the expiration of an Aug. 31 deadline for Iran to freeze work on
developing the technology, which can be used to help make nuclear arms.
Instead, they favor continued negotiations with Tehran.
Diplomats accredited to the IAEA, who demanded anonymity in exchange
for sharing confidential information with The Associated Press, said Iran's
readiness to consider a temporary enrichment freeze appears to have
exacerbated differences over U.N. sanctions.
-snip-