Clearday-TRForce
08-09-2005, 04:34 AM
Iran's decision to resume activity at its uranium conversion plant at Isfahan represents a clear breach of its agreement with the European Union.
http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/40667000/jpg/_40667064_isfahan*****203b.jpg
The drama surrounding Iran's nuclear programme is fast becoming a crisis.
All the signs coming from Tehran are uncompromising.
Tehran's decision to restart work at the uranium conversion facility
the flat, formal rejection of the European Union's latest package of proposals the appointment of a highly conservative figure to preside over the nuclear dossier. It is clear that from Iran's point of view the EU effort to persuade it to abandon the development of a nuclear fuel cycle has run into the sand. Given the remarkable ups and downs of this saga one hesitates to declare the European initiative at an end.
But Iran's decisions inevitably add urgency to the emergency meeting of the International Atomic Energy Agency's Board of Governors in Vienna on Tuesday.
Security Council referral
The United States for one is eager for the board to refer the whole matter to the UN Security Council.
Washington's hope is that harsh, punitive sanctions might follow.
But there is a fundamental problem in all of this.
Iran has certainly been less than forthcoming about its past nuclear activities. But some believe it is slowly addressing the IAEA's concerns.
And it is possible that some of the most damning evidence against Iran - the presence of highly-enriched uranium on second-hand nuclear equipment - could be the result of contamination from the original owner Pakistan rather than evidence of Iranian cheating.
Iran has signed the Non-Proliferation Treaty and its facilities are open to inspection. It is entitled to develop a nuclear fuel cycle.
And while concerns remain about its ultimate intentions, some IAEA board members may argue that there is very little on which to base a referral to New York.
- By Jonathan Marcus / BBC diplomatic correspondent
regards
http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/40667000/jpg/_40667064_isfahan*****203b.jpg
The drama surrounding Iran's nuclear programme is fast becoming a crisis.
All the signs coming from Tehran are uncompromising.
Tehran's decision to restart work at the uranium conversion facility
the flat, formal rejection of the European Union's latest package of proposals the appointment of a highly conservative figure to preside over the nuclear dossier. It is clear that from Iran's point of view the EU effort to persuade it to abandon the development of a nuclear fuel cycle has run into the sand. Given the remarkable ups and downs of this saga one hesitates to declare the European initiative at an end.
But Iran's decisions inevitably add urgency to the emergency meeting of the International Atomic Energy Agency's Board of Governors in Vienna on Tuesday.
Security Council referral
The United States for one is eager for the board to refer the whole matter to the UN Security Council.
Washington's hope is that harsh, punitive sanctions might follow.
But there is a fundamental problem in all of this.
Iran has certainly been less than forthcoming about its past nuclear activities. But some believe it is slowly addressing the IAEA's concerns.
And it is possible that some of the most damning evidence against Iran - the presence of highly-enriched uranium on second-hand nuclear equipment - could be the result of contamination from the original owner Pakistan rather than evidence of Iranian cheating.
Iran has signed the Non-Proliferation Treaty and its facilities are open to inspection. It is entitled to develop a nuclear fuel cycle.
And while concerns remain about its ultimate intentions, some IAEA board members may argue that there is very little on which to base a referral to New York.
- By Jonathan Marcus / BBC diplomatic correspondent
regards