Britain and France introduced a U.N. Security Council resolution Wednesday demanding that Iran abandon its uranium enrichment program, possibly setting the stage for sanctions if Tehran does not comply.

Jean Marc de La Sabliere, left, French Ambassador to the United Nations and Emyr Jones Parry, right, British Ambassador to the U.N. address the media after a closed doors Security Council consultations on the nuclear program of Iran at U.N. headquarters in New York Wednesday, May 3, 2006. [AP]

Several ambassadors said they hoped the resolution, backed by the United States, will be adopted before a meeting of foreign ministers in New York next Monday. Yet other diplomats questioned whether negotiations could wrap up that quickly.

The draft could lead to a showdown with Russia, which has arms and technology deals with Iran, as well as China. Both nations have said they adamantly oppose tough council action, and the two could use their veto-power on the council to spike it.

"I don't think this draft as it stands now will produce good results," China's U.N. Ambassador Wang Guangya said after he emerged from the Security Council meeting where the draft was introduced. "I think it's tougher than expected."

The resolution mandates that Iran suspend enrichment and warns that the council would "consider such further measures as may be necessary to ensure compliance" ¡ª language that could be seen as opening the door to sanctions.

 

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