Iran threatens to scupper nuclear deal
Objections by Iran to specific language in a key document threatened to torpedo a meeting meant to salvage the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty.
In particular, Iran is opposed to wording in the Vienna meeting’s agenda that mentions the “need for full compliance with the treaty”.
An Iranian diplomat who did not want to be named said yesterday his delegation did not see the need for the particular wording, adding it would prefer to see “different language”.
Another diplomat familiar with the issue said Iran was worried about being bullied and “considered it an additional provocation”.
Other diplomats at the conference in the Austrian capital said that Iran seemed isolated in its stance, with even traditional allies in the non-aligned camp reluctant to reopen debate on the four-page agenda.
The treaty, reviewed every five years, calls on nations to pledge not to pursue nuclear weapons, in exchange for a commitment by five nuclear powers – the US, Russia, Britain, France and China – to move towards nuclear disarmament.
