IRAN'S PARLIAMENT WILL ASK THE GOVERNMENT TO REVIEW ITS NUCLEAR NON-PROLIFERATION TREATY (NPT) MEMBERSHIP IF THE UNITED NATIONS PASSES A RESOLUTION OBLIGING IRAN TO SUSPEND URANIUM ENRICHMENT, MPS SAID ON SUNDAY. SUCH A MOVE WOULD GIVE LEGISLATIVE BACKING TO EARLIER THREATS BY IRANIAN PRESIDENT MAHMOUD AHMADINEJAD, WHO HAS SAID SINCE FEBRUARY IRAN WOULD REVIEW ITS NPT MEMBERSHIP IF IRAN FELT UNFAIRLY TREATED OVER ITS NUCLEAR PROGRAMME. THE UNITED STATES, BRITAIN AND FRANCE ARE BACKING A DRAFT U.N. SECURITY COUNCIL RESOLUTION THAT COMPELS IRAN TO SUSPEND ENRICHMENT ACTIVITIES UNDER CHAPTER 7 OF THE U.N. CHARTER. THE RESOLUTION, TO BE DISCUSSED BY DIPLOMATS IN NEW YORK ON MONDAY, DOES NOT CALL FOR ANY OTHER ACTION IF IRAN DOES NOT COMPLY, BUT THE UNITED STATES HAS MADE CLEAR THAT SANCTIONS WOULD BE THE NEXT STEP. RUSSIA AND CHINA, WHICH ALSO HAVE VETO POWERS ON THE SECURITY COUNCIL, OPPOSE INVOKING CHAPTER 7, WHICH WOULD ALLOW FOR SANCTIONS AND EVEN WAR IF IRAN DID NOT RESPOND, ALTHOUGH SEPARATE RESOLUTIONS WOULD BE NEEDED FOR EITHER OF THOSE STEPS. MORE THAN 160 MPS, A MAJORITY OF THE 290-SEAT PARLIAMENT, SAID IN A STATEMENT THAT IF THE UNITED NATIONS INVOKED CHAPTER 7 PARLIAMENT WOULD CALL ON IRAN TO CONSIDER QUITTING THE NPT. "THE PARLIAMENT WILL HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO ASK THE GOVERNMENT TO WITHDRAW ITS SIGNATURE FROM THE ADDITIONAL PROTOCOL AND PUT ON ITS AGENDA A REVIEW OF ARTICLE 10 OF THE NPT (ON WITHDRAWAL PROCEDURES)," THE STATEMENT WAS QUOTED AS SAYING BY REUTERS.
