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UNSC Agrees To Censure Iran

Britain`s U.N. ambassador, Emyr Jones Parry, announces the five permanent U.N. Security Council members agreed on a statement that would call on Iran to suspend parts of its nuclear program that could be used to build weapons. The agreement was reached as the U.K., France, and the United States made a series of concessions to Russia and China.

The new text is being referred to the full council for formal approval before foreign ministers of the five powers and Germany meet in Berlin on Thursday to map out a strategy. Negotiations have stretched over three weeks on the statement, which is non-binding and threatens no punitive measures.

Russia, backed by China, is determined to prevent the possibility punitive measures against Iran, and wants the International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna to control the issue. The new, revised statement calls on IAEA Director General Mohamed ElBaradei to report back on Iran`s compliance within 30 days, instead of the 14 days in the original text as demanded by American,