Iran warns of nuclear crisis

2005-09-13 12:58

Tehran - A senior Iranian official issued yet another blunt warning to the European Union on Tuesday not to refer a crisis over the Islamic republic's nuclear programme to the UN Security Council.

Senior national security official Ali Agha Mohammadi said Britain, France and Germany "are mistaken on our policies, and think that if they increase the pressure we will back down".

Mohammadi said: "This is an error because if they do such a thing, the Iranian strategy will also be to raise the stakes in response."

Last month Iran resumed converting uranium - a precursor to the ultra-sensitive enrichment process - in violation of a deal reached with the so-called EU-3.

On August 11, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) called on Iran to halt all nuclear fuel work and return to the table, but Iran was standing firm in its refusal.

Iran 'allowed to make nuke fuel'

The United States and EU-3 were pushing for a security council referral when the UN nuclear watchdog's board of governors next meets on September 19.

As a signatory of the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), Iran insisted it was allowed to make nuclear fuel by enriching uranium.

But, the process could be diverted to military purposes, and there were widespread suspicions the clerical regime wanted to acquire the technology to produce nuclear weapons.

Mohammadi said: "If the Europeans understand that we will defend our interests and that it is impossible for us to compromise on enrichment, we could reach an understanding and have a good board of governors meeting at the IAEA.

"But, if they miscalculate, this would lead to a challenging situation."

- AFP