UN issues Iran nuclear deadline
Iran says its nuclear programme is entirely peaceful
The UN Security Council has passed a resolution giving Iran a month to suspend uranium enrichment or face possible sanctions.
The resolution was passed by 14 votes to one, with Qatar the lone dissenter.
The resolution says "appropriate measures" will be taken if Iran does not comply, but does not threaten the immediate imposition of sanctions.
The US and other nations accuse Iran of trying to develop nuclear weapons, but Iran says its motives are peaceful.
The draft resolution was negotiated over the past two weeks by the five permanent Council members - the US, UK, China, France, Russia - as well as Germany.
It follows a 12 July agreement to refer Iran to the UN Security Council for failing to respond to a package of energy, commercial and technological incentives to suspend enrichment. Iran has said it will respond to this package by 22 August.
Differing positions
Russia and China argued against the specific mention of sanctions, and the Council will have to hold further discussions on what steps to take should Iran fail to halt uranium enrichment.
But both want Iran to accept what is on offer and prove to the world that its nuclear programme is aimed at generating electricity, not building bombs, says the BBC＇s Daniel Lak at the United Nations.
The US says it does not believe Tehran＇s assertions and has pushed for tough international action, says our correspondent.
Meanwhile, the ambassador for Qatar - the only Arab nation with a seat on the Security Council - says the Council＇s demands are legitimate but the timing is wrong.
"We do not agree with the resolution at a time when our region is in flames," Nassir Al-Nasser said.
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