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World alarm over Iran
12/04/2006 15:10 - (SA)
Moscow - World powers on Wednesday voiced concern over Iran's announcement that it had successfully enriched uranium to make nuclear fuel, describing the move in unison as a "step in the wrong direction."
The phrase was used verbatim by officials from France, Germany, Russia and the United States, indicating a rare international consensus disapproving of Iran's latest act of brinkmanship.
Russia, which is involved in building Iran's first nuclear reactor and is a veto-wielding member of the United Nations Security Council, called President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's announcement "a step in the wrong direction".
A foreign ministry spokesperson urged Tehran to suspend all uranium enrichment activity including that for scientific research purposes - a contrast to the diplomatic support Russia had given in earlier stages of the dispute.
Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov was however quoted as strongly opposing the use of force to resolve the issue after a US report over the weekend suggested Washington was considering military action.
Rejection of force
"I am convinced that there can be no resolution of the problem through use of force... Practically all European countries are in solidarity with Russia" in this regard, he said.
Russia is one of several nations known to have a nuclear weapons arsenal, along with the United States, Britain, China, France, India, and Pakistan. Israel is widely believed to possess atomic arms but has never confirmed this.
While Russia cautioned against a rush to judgement over Ahmadinejad's announcement that the Islamic republic had successfully enriched uranium itself for use as nuclear fuel, Iran's arch-enemy Israel said the whole world should be worried.
"This announcement is worrying for everyone as we have seen with the international reaction," Israeli army chief of staff Dan Halutz told army radio.
A nuclear-powered Iran "represents a threat to the whole world and not only Israel," added Halutz, who nevertheless said that Iran was "not there yet" as far as being able to produce nuclear weapons.
The Jewish state has come to view the regime in Tehran as its number one enemy, alarmed in particular by a call last year from Ahmadinejad for Israel to be "wiped off the map."
The White House, which has led allegations Iran is seeking a nuclear weapon that are strongly denied by Tehran, said that the UN Security Council should consider further measures if the Islamic republic presses on with uranium enrichment.
Iran's move "only further underscores why the international community has serious concerns about the regime's nuclear ambitions," said White House spokesperson Scott McClellan.
- SAPA
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