Major powers, including China and Russia, have agreed on a new United Nations sanctions resolution against Iran over its nuclear programme, the United States said on Tuesday.
The announcement was a tacit rebuff to a deal brokered by Brazil and Turkey and made public on Monday in which Iran agreed to send some uranium abroad. US officials regard that deal as a manoeuvre by Iran to delay more UN sanctions.
“This announcement is as convincing an answer to the efforts undertaken in Tehran in the last few days as any that we could provide,” Secretary of state Hillary Clinton said, repeating that Washington has many questions about the fuel swap deal.
The deal revived the idea of a nuclear fuel swap devised by the United Nations last year with the aim of keeping Tehran’s nuclear activities in check.
But Tehran made clear it did not intend to suspend domestic uranium enrichment that the Western governments have said appears aimed at giving it the means to make nuclear weapons.
Western nations have reacted sceptically to the deal brokered by Turkey and Brazil, although China — the major power most reluctant to impose more sanctions on Iran — welcomed it and urged talks with Tehran.
Ms Clinton, speaking to legislators in Washington, said: “We have reached agreement on a strong draft with the cooperation of both Russia and China,” She did not give details of the draft, but said it would be circulated to the full Security Council later on Tuesday.
She said the agreement was reached among the five permanent Security Council members — Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States — and Germany, which have been engaged in talks on ways to address any nuclear threat from Tehran.
The Security Council will hold a closed-door session on Tuesday afternoon to receive the draft, diplomats said.
The United States and its Western allies accuse Iran of using its civilian nuclear programme as a cover under which to develop nuclear weapons. Iran denies this, saying its nuclear programme is solely to generate electricity.
Western powers have said the fuel swap offer promoted by Brazil and Turkey will not be enough to ease their worries and Israel, which regards Iranian nuclear capability as a direct threat, dismissed it.
Iran said it had agreed to transfer 1,200 kg (2,646 lb) of its low-enriched uranium (LEU) to Turkey within a month and in return receive, within a year, 120 kg of 20 per cent-enriched uranium for use in a medical research reactor.
Ms Clinton said the deal did not commit Iran to suspend uranium enrichment and could lead to months of negotiations before Iran turned over any of its low enriched uranium. She suggested that it was a ploy to stave off sanctions.