Friday, July 21 2006 12:32 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

United Nations: Britain, France and Germany have circulated a revised draft resolution in the UN Security Council that legally requires Iran to suspend all uranium enrichment and reprocessing activities.

The draft presented by the three European powers during informal consultations yesterday was an amended version of a text that has been under discussion this week by the council's five permanent members and Germany.

It decides that Iran shall suspend all enrichment-related and reprocessing activities, including research and development, to be verified by the IAEA (the UN nuclear watchdog), and suspend the construction of a reactor moderated by heavy water.

The text, which was made available to reporters, invokes articles 39 and 40 of Chapter Seven of the UN charter that stipulate 'provisional measures' to be taken ahead of imposing tougher steps such as sanctions.

But it also expresses its intention in the event of Iran's non-compliance with the enrichment freeze demand to adopt such further measures under Article 41 of Chapter Seven as may be necessary to ensure compliance.

Article 41 provides for a broad range of economic sanctions but does not authorize the use of force.

The new text also calls on all states immediately to take steps to prevent the transfer of any items, materials, goods and technology that could contribute to Iran's enrichment-related and reprocessing activities and ballistic missile programs.

It was discussed in informal consultations yesterday by ambassadors from Britain, China, France, Russia, the United States and Germany.