Iran pulls back on nuke plans
2005-08-03 20:34
Tehran - Iran on Wednesday pulled back from an earlier announcement it planned an imminent resumption of ultra-sensitive nuclear activities, amid warnings that such a move would spark an international crisis.
Top nuclear negotiator Hassan Rowhani said Iran wanted to resume contested uranium conversion activities by Saturday after officials earlier suggested it hoped to restart the process on Wednesday, ending a nine-month freeze.
Iran's intention to resume uranium conversion, the precursor to enrichment, has caused grave concern in European countries which have warned Tehran could be hauled before the UN security council and face possible sanctions.
The latest manoeuvring came as new ultra-conservative President Mahmood Ahmadinejad, who many diplomats fear will further toughen Iran's nuclear stance, took office.
"We hope to resume (uranium conversion) by the start of next week," Rowhani told state television.
The week starts on Saturday in Iran.
Earlier, nuclear negotiator Ali Agha Mohammadi had said: "I hope to remove the seals and resume activities today," referring to seals placed by international nuclear inspectors on the Isfahan plant in central Iran.
Warning
However, there was still no sign that Iran was reconsidering its decision to resume conversion activities and appeared to be merely adjusting its timetable in line with a call by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
Rowhani expressed his indignation over a warning by Britain, France and Germany that they would call "in the next few days" an emergency meeting in Vienna of the IAEA's 35-nation board of governors, the body that would send the Iranian nuclear dossier to the security council.
"The three European ministers have said that if we restart (the Isfahan plant) this would mean the end of negotiations. This is a threat, this is unacceptable," said Rowhani.
"There is no judicial or political logic to send the issue to the security council, this would mean that the Europeans have given in to US pressure and they must assume the consequences," he said.
"Once the Isfahan plant restarts, we want to continue the negotiations with the Europeans."
The United States accuses Iran of seeking to develop a nuclear bomb.