United Nations ? The United States reached critical agreement with France on a tough U.N. resolution that gives Iraq a last chance to disarm or face “serious consequences,” setting the stage for a vote today.

While Thursday’s agreement offers concessions, it still meets President Bush’s demands to toughen inspections and free the United States to take military action if inspectors say Iraq isn’t complying.

Bush was confident of victory Thursday, referring to the resolution’s adoption as a foregone conclusion.

“When this resolution passes, I will be able to say that the United Nations has recognized the threat and now we’re going to work together to disarm him,” he said.

The breakthrough came after the United States and co-sponsor Britain changed the wording in two key provisions to satisfy French and Russian concerns.

Hours earlier, French President Jacques Chirac’s office confirmed the agreement. French officials said it eliminated “ambiguities” that could be used to trigger an attack, and kept the Security Council as the key body in dealing with the Iraqi issue.

In the effort to get French and Russian support, the United States agreed to change the wording in a key provision that would declare Iraq in “material breach” of its U.N. obligations.

The change addresses concerns by France, Russia, Syria and others that the original wording would have let the United States determine on its own whether Iraq had committed an infraction. The new wording requires U.N. weapons inspectors to make an assessment of any Iraqi violations.

After distributing the final text to council members Thursday evening, U.S. Ambassador John Negroponte said there was “broad support” for the resolution.

While meeting U.S. demands, it also gives Iraqi President Saddam Hussein a last chance to cooperate with weapons inspectors.

The United States and Britain have been trying to get all 15 Security Council members to approve the new resolution to send a united message to Saddam Hussein ” but Syria is likely to abstain or vote “no.”