The European Union has dropped its U.S.-backed demand that the International Atomic Energy Agency immediately report Iran to the United Nations Security Council for its controversial nuclear program.
That diplomatic turn came Thursday in Vienna at an emergency meeting of the 35-nation IAEA board. It follows opposition from Russia and China to the EU proposal.
Earlier this week, envoys from Britain, France and Germany circulated a draft calling for Iran's immediate referral to the Security Council for allegedly concealing efforts to build an atomic weapon. But Security Council members Russia and China condemned the proposal, along with most non-aligned nations on the IAEA board.
Russia insisted that ongoing European talks with Tehran be given more time.
A new European draft circulated in Vienna Thursday omits any explicit threat to refer Iran to the Security Council. But it does leave open the possibility that the IAEA could refer the matter to the Council at a later date.
Some information for this report provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.
