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Russia and China to back Iran resolution
Last Modified: 12 Sep 2012 14:40
With Israel threatening to use military force, agreement is seen as progress after months of diplomatic deadlock.
Iran has refused foreign offers to supply reactor fuel so that it would stop making its own through enrichment [AFP]
After days of diplomacy, Russia and China have agreed to support a US-backed resolution demanding that Iran stop activities that could be used to make nuclear arms.
Diplomats said on Wednesday the agreement sent a unified message to Iran, but also convinced Israel that diplomacy was a real alternative to military force in preventing a nuclear confrontation.
The resolution cannot be enforced by the 35-nation board of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), even if approved by vote or consensus as expected on Thursday. But with Israel threatening war against Iran, the agreement is a significant progress after months of diplomatic deadlock.
Israel views a nuclear-armed Iran as a strategic threat, citing Iran's persistent calls for the destruction of the Jewish state, its development of missiles capable of striking Israel, and Iranian support for Arab armed groups.
Iran's stand
Iran insists its nuclear programme is for peaceful purposes only.
But it refuses foreign offers of reactor fuel if it stops making its own through uranium enrichment - a process that worries the international community because it could also be used to arm nuclear warheads.
Russia and China to back Iran resolution - Middle East - Al Jazeera English