"It must pilot the whole process," while the Security Council should remained
"informed," he said.
A statement needs the approval of all 15 council members while a resolution
requires a minimum of nine votes and no veto from the United States, Britain,
France, Russia and China.
Both Russia and China have expressed fears that council involvement could
result in a cut-off by Iran of IAEA inspections. They are also apprehensive
council action would escalate and lead to possible sanctions.
The draft statement also calls on Iran to suspend uranium-enrichment efforts,
which the West believes are a cover for bomb-making. Iran insists its research
is intended to produce nuclear energy, but the IAEA is concerned Tehran might be
seeking atomic weapons.
No decision is expected until next week, after senior foreign affairs
officials from the five powers and Germany meet in New York on Monday to discuss
future strategy on Iran.
Nicholas Burns, U.S. undersecretary of state for political affairs, will
represent Washington. Others include foreign ministry political directors John
Sawers of Britain, Michael Schaefer of Germany and Stanislas de la Boulaye of
France.
Russia is sending its deputy foreign minister, Sergei Kislyak, and China will
be represented by Zhang Yan, its ambassador to the United Nations in Vienna.