Nuclear resolution 'illegal'

2005-09-24 20:36

Tehran - The resolution passed by the UN nuclear watchdog setting Iran up for referral to the Security Council is "illegal and unacceptable", foreign ministry spokesperson Hamid Reza Assefi was quoted as saying on Saturday.

"This resolution is illegal and unacceptable," the student agency ISNA quoted Assefi as saying of the International Atomic Energy Agency's resolution adopted in Vienna that could see Tehran hauled before the Security Council over its suspect nuclear programme.

"Iran's response will be given after examining (the resolution) and our colleagues' return from Vienna," he added.

The IAEA's 35-nation board adopted the EU-proposed resolution by a vote of 22-1, with 12 abstentions, finding Iran in violation of international nuclear safeguards but putting off any decision on a Security Council referral till later.

"The Europeans were trying to get this resolution adopted by consensus on the board of governors but they failed and had to put the text to a vote," said Assefi.

Resorting to a vote on the board of governors is "very rare", he said, which shows that "there is no consensus against Iran's peaceful nuclear activities."

- AFP