Iran withdraws draft resolution banning attacks on nuclear facilities

Iran has decided to withdraw a draft resolution banning attacks on nuclear facilities, which it had jointly submitted to the annual meeting of member states of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

The withdrawal of the resolution comes as US allies begin the countdown to the reimposition of UN sanctions on Iran over its nuclear program.

In a speech to the IAEA General Conference late Thursday, Iran's Ambassador to the United Nations, Reza Najafi, announced that Tehran, in a spirit of goodwill and constructive engagement, and at the request of several member states, had decided to postpone consideration of the draft resolution until next year's conference.

Western diplomats, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss internal deliberations, said the United States had exerted intense pressure behind the scenes to prevent the resolution from being adopted.

They added that Washington had raised the possibility of cutting funding to the IAEA if the resolution was adopted and if the agency moved to restrict Israel's rights within its jurisdiction.

Iran announced that it had submitted, in cooperation with Russia, China, and other countries, a draft resolution to the IAEA General Conference prohibiting all forms of attack or threat of attack on nuclear sites and facilities under IAEA safeguards.

It is worth noting that in 1981, assistance to Israel under the IAEA's technical assistance program was suspended as a result of an Israeli attack on a nuclear reactor in Iraq.

The attack was strongly condemned at the time in resolutions adopted by the UN Security Council, the IAEA General Conference, and the IAEA Board of Governors.