Thursday, March 23 2006 11:22 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

United Nations: Russia and China struck adamantly to their positions on Iranian nuclear issue as the five veto-wielding permanent members of UN Security Council held another fruitless round of talks to bridge differences over the tone and content of a presidential statement.

Diplomats reported no progress at yesterday's talks but only hoped the Permanent Five would be able to ultimately reach a consensus on the tough statement drafted by Britain and France and backed by the US, which asks Tehran to stop enrichment of uranium and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to report on its compliance within two weeks.

Having failed so far to arrive at such an agreement, the five have not scheduled any session of the full 15-member Council. They had planned closed door consultations of the entire Council on Tuesday but called it off with nothing concrete to report.

Russia, backed by China, want only a brief political statement to support IAEA's efforts but leave the task of persuading Iran to give up its nuclear enrichment programme to the nuclear watchdog agency (IAEA). They would like the IAEA officials to report to its own board rather than the Council as the US, Britain and France are demanding.

Moscow is also unenthusiastic to the proposal that the IAEA officials report simultaneously to both their board and the Council. In short, it does not want the Council to start dealing with the Iranian nuclear at this stage.

Diplomats said Russia also wants ensure that no nation or group of nation is able interpret any part of the statement to take unilateral action against Iran as had happened in case of Iraq.

A presidential statement in the UN Security Council requires okay by all the 15 members and thus lack of support by even one member can stop it from being issued.

A resolution, which is one step higher, requires nine votes to be adopted provided that there is no veto by a permanent member.

The US and its allies could bring in a resolution if efforts to find consensus on the statement fail but then veto by either Russia or China or both would kill the resolution.

More importantly, diplomats say, it would show sharp divisions among the most powerful nations, something which they have been trying to avoid since the end of the cold war.