Iran escapes rebuke at IAEA despite no 'promise' on open questions

Iran's ambassador to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Kazem Gharibabadi waits for the beginning of a board of governors meeting at the IAEA headquarters in Vienna, Austria September 13, 2021. REUTERS/Leonhard Foeger

VIENNA (Reuters) - Western powers on Monday scrapped plans for a resolution criticising Iran at the U.N. atomic watchdog after Tehran agreed to prolong monitoring of some nuclear activities, even though the watchdog said Iran made no "promise" on another key issue.

The decision by the United States, France, Britain and Germany not to push for a resolution at this week's meeting of the International Atomic Energy Agency's 35-nation Board of Governors avoids an escalation with Iran that could have killed hopes of resuming wider talks on reviving the Iran nuclear deal.