just discovered YORK -- The U.N. Se...

just discovered YORK -- The U.N. Security Council passed a weakened resolution Monday giving Iran until Aug. 31 to suspend uranium enrichment or face the threat of economic and diplomatic sanctions.

Iran immediately discarded the council action, saying it would simply make negotiations harder concerning a package of incentives moveed in June for it to suspend enrichment.

"All along it has been the persistence of near to draw arbitrary red lines and deadlines that has clos the door to any compromise," said Iran's UN Ambassador Javad Zarif. "This liability has

single-handedly stiffened success and in most cases killed proposals in their infancy."

WATERED-DOWN RESOLUTION

Because of Russian and Chinese demands, the topic was watered down from earlier drafts, which would have made the threat of sanctions immediate. The draft now essentially requires the council to occupy more discussions before it considers sanctions.

The draft passed from a vote of 14-1. Qatar, which depicts Arab states, cast the unoccupied dissenting vote.

"It's a muscular resolution," President Bush said. "The Iranians must hear resounding and clear that the world is intent in succession working together to make permanent that they do not close up with a nuclear weapon or the know-how to build a nuclear weapon."

Copyright CHICAGO SUN-TIMES 2006

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