Tehran, Iran – Iran on Tuesday threatened to resume uranium enrichment and bar open inspections of its nuclear facilities if an ongoing meeting of the U.N. nuclear watchdog decides to refer its case to the Security Council for possible sanctions.
However, Iran’s top nuclear negotiator, Ali Larijani, offered Europe a new round of talks, saying the world should give Teh ran’s new government a chance to reach a political understanding.
At the International Atomic Energy Agency board meeting in Vienna, European negotiators prepared a draft resolution that would refer Iran to the Security Council for alleged “failures and breaches of its obligations to comply” with the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty.
But Russia’s opposition could delay the vote until a later meeting of the 35-member board, diplomats in Vienna said.
Larijani criticized the discussion in Vienna, saying nuclear technology has become a matter of national pride and that the Iran ian government would not compromise over its right to enrich uranium.
Larijani did not appear to be calling for Iran to pull out of the treaty completely but rather to suspend the protocol that allows unfettered, short-notice inspections of nuclear facilities.
He warned that Iran’s response would be the same if the IAEA tried to impose deadlines.
“If they set a deadline, it will, from Iran’s point of view, make no difference from being referred to the U.N. Security Council, and Iran will react in the same manner,” Larijani said.
Britain, Germany and France, negotiating on behalf of the European Union, have drafted a resolution demanding Iran be referred to the council.
The IAEA has been trying to determine if gaps in Iranian reporting on more than 18 years of clandestine nuclear activity are attempts to hide military involvement in what Iran insists is a purely civilian program to generate electricity. Establishing such involvement would bolster arguments by Washington and its allies that Iran’s program is a cover for making nuclear arms.
