Iran Threatens to Step Up Nuclear Activities if UN Takes Action Against It
05 March 2006
Iran has warned it will resume full scale uranium enrichment if the U.N. Security Council takes action over its nuclear program.
Iran's top nuclear negotiator, Ali Larijani, spoke Sunday in Vienna, telling reporters that nuclear research and development is in Iran's national interest.
The International Atomic Energy Agency holds discussions on Iran Monday in Vienna, with a report from IAEA chief Mohamed ElBaradei. The agency's board of governors is also expected to discuss its decision last month to report Iran to the Security Council, which could impose sanctions.
In Washington, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, John Bolton, told an American pro-Israeli lobbying group that Iran could face "painful consequences" if it continues "down the path of international isolation."
On Saturday, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said the Security Council is not likely to immediately impose sanctions on Iran. But she said the council will have to have a serious discussion about what the next steps will be.
President Bush says the world will be in danger if Iran acquires nuclear weapons. Washington accuses Tehran of secret efforts to develop such weapons. Iran says its nuclear program is for generating electricity. It resumed enriching uranium this year despite Western protests.
Iran and Russia have been discussing a Russian proposal that would have Iranian nuclear fuel enriched in Russia. That proposal is designed to ease concerns that Iran could use enriched fuel to build a nuclear weapon. Iran says those talks will end if it is referred to the Security Council.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.
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