VIENNA, Nov. 26 (UPI) -- The U.N. nuclear watchdog Wednesday passed a resolution condemning Iran's nuclear program but stopped short of recommending sanctions.
The resolution by the International Atomic Energy Agency welcomed Tehran's "offer of active cooperation and openness," but warned the Islamic Republic against "further serious Iranian failures."
The compromise resolution, which was adopted by the IAEA's 35-nation board of governors, came after intense negotiations among diplomats from the United States and the European Union who had differed over how to deal with Iran's suspected nuclear program. Washington wanted the U.N. Security Council mentioned in the resolution, but London, Paris and Berlin did not.
"It's a good day for peace, a good day for multilateralism and a good day for non-proliferation," IAEA chief Mohammed ElBaradei told reporters.
As part of its efforts to comply with the IAEA, Tehran has suspended uranium enrichment and has agreed to tough inspections of its facilities. A failure on its part to comply with IAEA mandates, could lead to U.N. sanctions.
Iran said it understood the need for the resolution.
"We understand the fact that the EU was forced to note certain perspectives in the resolution as a compromise to America and other European states," said Ali Akbar Salehi, Tehran's envoy to the body.
