Iran says will resume atomic research

By Mark Heinrich

VIENNA (Reuters) – Iran told the International Atomic
Energy Agency on Tuesday that it would resume suspended
nuclear-fuel research on January 9, a move likely to alarm the
West which believes Tehran is seeking to make atom bombs.

IAEA Secretary-General Mohamed ElBaradei informed the 35
countries on the U.N. watchdog agency’s board that it had
received a note from Iran and is seeking clarification about
its implications, the IAEA said in a statement.

Mohammad Saeedi, deputy head of Iran’s Atomic Energy
Organization, had announced earlier in the day that the nuclear
fuel work would resume shortly.

Iran’s note cited the Islamic republic’s “full privilege
and inalienable rights” in pursuing atomic energy under the
IAEA covenant and nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, which
Tehran signed.

“The Atomic Energy Organization of Iran has decided to
resume, from January 9, 2006, R&D (research and development) on
the peaceful nuclear energy programme which was suspended as
part of its expanded voluntary and non-legally binding
suspension” agreed earlier with the European Union, the message
said.

“The agency (IAEA) is thus requested to take necessary and
timely preparation in this regard,” Iran’s note said. “It is to
be noted that the said R&D will be conducted in accordance with
Iran’s safeguards agreement with the IAEA.”

Research on nuclear fuel may include some small-scale
testing of sensitive atomic processes, including uranium
enrichment, an activity Iran has said it is keen to master.

Iran says its nuclear work aims only to generate civilian
electricity. But it concealed atomic development activities
from the IAEA for 18 years until 2003, raising Western
suspicions.

The IAEA statement said ElBaradei reiterated the importance
of Iran maintaining its suspension of all activities related to
enrichment of uranium, the key ingredient in nuclear bombs, to
restore international confidence in its intentions.

“The Director General acknowledges the right under the NPT
of all states, including Iran, to the peaceful use of nuclear
technology. However, he continues to call on Iran to take the
steps the IAEA requires to resolve outstanding issues regarding
the nature of Irans nuclear programme,” the statement said.

“In the meantime, Dr ElBaradei also calls on Iran to take
voluntary measures to build confidence, and enable the
resumption of dialogue with all concerned parties.”

Tuesday’s news coincided with strong hints from Iran’s
Foreign Ministry that Tehran planned to spurn a Russian
proposal to defuse Iran’s stand-off with the West by enriching
Iranian uranium in Russia to prevent diversions to arms-related
work.

“This (Iranian announcement) is a withdrawal from the
suspension, so it’s pretty serious. This is all about Natanz,
since research and development is related to that,” said an EU
Western diplomat, referring to an Iranian uranium-enrichment
plant mothballed under an earlier deal with the EU.