Chinese envoy opposes resorting to Chapter 7 resolution on Iran

Wang, who presides over the 15-member Security Council for this month, said the standoff with Iran over fears that it may be seeking to develop nuclear weapons, should be resolved through diplomacy.

International Atomic Energy Agency chief Mohamed ElBaradei, in a report sent to the Council Friday, said Iran has failed to comply with a UN deadline to halt uranium enrichment.

Western diplomats here said they would introduce a Chapter 7 draft resolution in the council next week.

"All we want is to work for a diplomatic issue, because this region is already complicated," Wang said. "I believe that invoking Chapter 7 will (make things) more complicated, and the implications will lead events to a direction that is uncertain."

"We all know what Chapter 7 is... Clearly this would not be the end of the resolutions, this would be the beginning of a series of resolutions. Whatever we do we should promote diplomacy," he added.

A Chapter 7 resolution is invoked to deal with "threats to peace, breaches of the peace, or acts of aggression" and is binding on all UN member states.

It can authorize sanctions or even military action.

Several Security Council resolutions against Iraq were taken under Chapter 7, before the March 2003 US-led invasion.

This was also the basis for UN armed action during the 1950-53 Korean War and the use of coalition forces in Iraq and Kuwait in 1991.

Western diplomats here cautioned not to expect a call for immediate sanctions, saying this would require another resolution.

Russia and China, which have significant economic interests in Iran, oppose such drastic measures and instead urge patient diplomacy spearheaded by the IAEA.

Iran rejects Western allegations that its civilian nuclear program is a cover for developing nuclear weapons and said that as a signatory of the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty it has the right to enrich uranium.

Enrichment can be used to produce nuclear reactor fuel but also fuel for bomb-making.

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