The European Union (EU) on Tuesday pressed the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to report the Iran nuclear issue to the UN Security Council and General Assembly.

In a draft resolution presented by France, Germany and Britain to IAEA board members, the 25-nation bloc urged the IAEA to report "Iran's many failures and breaches of its obligations to comply with its NPT (Non-Proliferation Treaty) Safeguards Agreement."

Diplomats said the EU, backed by the United States and Japan, made the call based on Article 12 of the IAEA Statute, which reads as "the (IAEA) Board shall report the non-compliance to all members and to the Security Council and General Assembly of the United Nations."

The US and the EU suspect that Iran's nuclear fuel program is aimed at developing atomic weapons. Teheran denies the charge, saying its program is for the peaceful generation of electricity.

The draft also demands a UN Security Council mandate to urge Iran to grant the IAEA access to locations in the country beyond Iran's legal obligations and to "re-establish full and sustained suspension of all enrichment-related and reprocessing activities, " which could produce atom bomb fuel.

The Non-Allied-Movement (NAM), which have 14 seats in the 35-member IAEA board, generally supports Iran's stance on the nuclear issue, and sources said NAM countries are still discussing a general position on the EU's proposal.

The EU resolution might get approved by the IAEA board if a minimum of 18 members give green light to the draft resolution, a diplomat in Vienna who declined to be identified told Xinhua.

IAEA Chief Mohamed ElBaradei, however, said Monday that there is hope for a resumption of nuclear negotiations with Iran, adding that the issue should be settled through dialogue.

Source: Xinhua