US Proposes Referring Iran Nuclear Case to UN Security Council

The United States intends to escalate diplomatic pressure on Iran by proposing Tehran's referral to the United Nations Security Council, citing its alleged obstruction of International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspectors' work. This referral is expected to be discussed this week during the IAEA Board of Governors meeting in Vienna, according to a draft of the American proposal reported on Monday. The US proposal calls for urgent action regarding Iran's "non-compliance" with IAEA resolutions and its refusal to permit nuclear inspections. However, China and Russia are unlikely to support any new measures against Tehran, given the possibility that referring the issue to the Security Council could lead to economic sanctions or even authorization for military force. The IAEA announced earlier in September that Iran continues to block inspectors from accessing its nuclear facilities. This comes amidst a lack of indications of an imminent agreement between Tehran and Washington to end their six-month-long "conflict." The agency also confirmed that its inspectors remain unable to verify the location or status of Iran's highly enriched uranium stockpile.