VIENNA — Opposition led by China to a planned resolution rebuking Iran at the U.N. nuclear watchdog's 35-nation board has forced it to call an in-person session after four days of meeting online because of the coronavirus, diplomats said on Thursday. France, Britain and Germany, all parties to Iran's nuclear deal with major powers, have submitted a draft resolution to the International Atomic Energy Agency's Board of Governors calling on Iran to stop denying the agency access to two old sites and to cooperate fully with it, diplomats taking part in the virtual meeting said. The board prefers to adopt resolutions by consensus, meaning without a vote as long as no one opposes. Diplomats said Iran's ally Russia told the board it saw no need for a resolution but China voiced clear opposition, prompting the board's chairwoman to call an in-person meeting on Friday for further discussions and possibly a vote.

Source: International New York Times June 18, 2020 18:00 UTC