Iran referral under section 7?

An agreement has been reached in Paris to refer Iran to the UN security council. What caught my eye is the oblique, very diplomatic mention during the announcement of section 7 of the UN charter. Invocation of this section is very significant as that is the portion under which military action can be taken.

But it wasn't done directly although all veto wielding security council members signed on to the statement. Take a look at how carefully it's being framed as a "statement" not a draft document,

(AP)If Iran does not comply, the group said it would then seek harsher action. The group's short statement give no specifics, but it cited a section of the world body's charter that could open the door to economic or other sanctions. The group said it could stop the Security Council actions at any time should Iran cooperate.

It reads more like a threat than a direct invocation. NYTimes version.

Russian officials were also concerned that any resolution not open the door for eventual military action against Iran.

There is some concern among European leaders that radical elements in Iran might use the six-nation group’s statement to prod Iran’s ruling clerics to increase support for Hezbollah and other radical groups, and perhaps cause other trouble.

Still, another European official said, the statement was a watershed — “the first time Russia and China have agreed to go to the Security Council under Chapter 7.”

What this sounds like to me is a joint statement ordering Iran to comply with a mention of possible, later, Security Council action under Section 7.

This is a diplomatic coup for the Bush administration as it allows them to claim a total win, although if it's a two part action or not binding, it's not quite that clean.

UPDATE: This morning, the NYTimes has a new version of this story that is much more tepid. "Though punitive sanctions are in no way certain, agreeing to start down a road that could lead to them is a huge step for Moscow and Beijing."