IAEA report on Iran heading for UNSC: US

Action on the report may lead to international sanctions against Iran.

A report on Iran's nuclear program that opens the door to Security Council action will now be sent to the Council in New York, US ambassador Gregory Schulte said at a meeting of the UN nuclear watchdog in Vienna.

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Schulte made the comment to reporters after the International Atomic Energy Agency finished a review of the report by IAEA chief Mohamed ElBaradei.

"The Director General's report will now be transmitted to New York for action by the Security Council," Schulte said. The Council, unlike the IAEA, has enforcement powers and can impose punitive measures, including sanctions.

Schulte said the report "makes clear" that Iran failed to meet IAEA demands made in a resolution on February 4 to suspend uranium enrichment and cooperate fully with agency inspectors.

"Iran's leaders had a month to meet these requirements" but "they failed to meet a single one," said Schulte.

"The course (they) have chosen has left them increasingly isolated and increasingly at risk of meaningful consequences," Schulte said.

"The people of Iran deserve (peaceful) nuclear energy and international respect, not a future of increasing isolation and consequences for the failure of their leaders to meet international commitments and heed international concern."