Iran may escape censure at nuclear treaty meeting

Iran may escape censure at a meeting of the 189 signatories of a global anti-nuclear arms pact, despite growing concerns that Tehran might be developing atomic weapons, according to a draft declaration. The United States and other countries say Iran is in breach of its obligations under the 1970 nuclear NPT, a landmark arms-control pact that has been the focus of a month-long conference and review wrapping up this week.
A draft declaration prepared by conference president Libran Cabactulan of the Philippines fails to mention Iran or its nuclear program, though it names India, Pakistan and Israel as NPT holdouts. Diplomats said Iran had threatened to veto any final declaration if it was named.
The draft also names North Korea, which pulled out of the NPT several years ago. Delegates say they hope a final version of the declaration, which calls for improved compliance with the treaty and further disarmament steps, can be agreed before the NPT conference ends on Friday. NPT decisions are made by consensus.
There is only an indirect reference to Iran in a paragraph of the 29-page draft declaration, obtained by Reuters, that says the NPT review conference "expresses its concerns with cases of non-compliance of the Treaty by States parties." Western officials say that IAEA resolution amounted to a finding of Iranian non-compliance with the NPT. Iran denies violating the NPT and says its nuclear program is peaceful.