The top U.S. envoy to the International Atomic Energy Agency says momentum is growing among IAEA delegates to report Iran to the United Nations Security Council for its suspect nuclear activities.
U.S. Ambassador Gregory Schulte told IAEA diplomats meeting in Vienna that the time has come to act against Iran. Washington and the European Union accuse Tehran of secret efforts to develop atomic weapons. Iran denies the charges.
The Security Council can impose sanctions if it finds Tehran has not complied with the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
Western efforts to rally support for referral from the 35-member IAEA board is opposed by Russia, China and a host of non-aligned member-nations that want European-Iranian negotiations to continue.
Earlier Wednesday, Iranian Vice President Gholamreza Aghazadeh said Tehran has no intention of abandoning the non-proliferation treaty, despite warnings Tuesday by a top Iranian negotiator.
Some information for this report provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.
