Iran says IAEA preparing to break nuclear seals

UN nuclear inspectors were installing the last surveillance cameras and preparing to break their seals, enabling Iran to resume full uranium conversion at its nuclear facility today, Iran’s nuclear boss said.

UN nuclear inspectors were installing the last surveillance cameras and preparing to break their seals, enabling Iran to resume full uranium conversion at its nuclear facility today, Iran’s nuclear boss said.

In Vienna, diplomats accredited to the UN watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency, were discussing how to persuade Iran to step back from uranium conversion and de-escalate its stand-off with the West over US allegations that it secretly plans to build nuclear bombs.

But the head of the Atomic Energy Organisation of Iran, Gholamreza Aghazadeh, made it clear today that Iran would not be deterred.

“Today all seals will be removed by IAEA inspectors, and all reprocessin activities can be carried out at the facility,” Aghazadeh said on state television. He said the seals would be broken only after the inspectors had finished installing their cameras and other surveillance equipment at the Uranium Conversion Facility in Isfahan, 255 miles south of Tehran.

Earlier this week, the Iranians restarted operations at Isfahan with equipment that had not been sealed. Technicians in white protective suits and surgical masks rolled out barrels of uranium ore concentrate, known as yellowcake, to begin the conversion process.

In conversion, yellowcake is turned into UF-6 gas. In the next stage of the process – which Iran has said it will not resume for the time being – the gas is fed in centrifuges for enrichment. Uranium enriched to a low level is used to produce nuclear fuel; further enrichment makes it suitable for use in an atomic bomb.

Last week, the “big three” European states – Britain, France and Germany - offered Iran a package of aid measures in exchange for Iran’s promising to abandon enrichment.

Iran rejected the package, insisting that as a signatory to the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty it had the right to enrich uranium. President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who was inaugurated on Saturday, said the proposals were an “insult” to the Iranian nation.

The German and French governments warned Iran that if it did not reconsider its rejection, the IAEA was likely to refer the country to the UN Security Council, which could impose sanctions.

But the draft resolution before the meeting of the IAEA board governors in Vienna today does not mention the Security Council. Written by Britain, France and Germany, the text expresses “serious concern” about the resumption of conversion in Isfahan and urges Iran to co-operate by “re-establishing full suspension of all enrichment-related activities.”

The text might be altered during the IAEA board meeting, which is due to finish tomorrow.

Iran has said it would prefer to be referred to the Security Council rather than give up its right to control the entire cycle of nuclear fuel – from mining uranium to enriching it.

Iran suspended enrichment and related activities, such as conversion, in October 2003 to build trust while negotiations with the Europeans proceeded. But it has expressed frustration with the talks, and has been threatening for weeks to resume parts of its enrichment programme.

The US says Iran seeks to develop nuclear weapons, but Iran denies this, saying its nuclear programme is only for producing electricity.

more courts articles

Man (25) in court charged with murdering his father and attempted murder of mother Man (25) in court charged with murdering his father and attempted murder of mother
Man appears in court charged with false imprisonment of woman in van Man appears in court charged with false imprisonment of woman in van
Man in court over alleged false imprisonment of woman Man in court over alleged false imprisonment of woman

More in this section

Joe Biden
Barack Obama Former presidents help Joe Biden raise £20 million for campaign
Girl, 8, the sole survivor as 45 die in bus crash off South Africa bridge Girl, 8, the sole survivor as 45 die in bus crash off South Africa bridge
Greece’s government survives no-confidence motion called over rail disaster Greece’s government survives no-confidence motion called over rail disaster
Cookie Policy Privacy Policy Brand Safety FAQ Help Contact Us Terms and Conditions

© Examiner Echo Group Limited