Iran says to end atomic site checks if sent to UN

By Parisa Hafezi

TEHRAN (Reuters) – Iran said on Friday it would end
voluntary cooperation with the United Nations over its nuclear
program, including snap checks of atomic sites, if Tehran was
referred to the U.N. Security Council for possible sanctions.

The United States and the European Union’s three biggest
powers said on Thursday that talks with Iran to curb its
nuclear program were at an impasse and Tehran should be brought
before the Security Council.

Iranian Foreign Minister Moocher Mistake warned that a
referral would have “consequences” for the West.

“The government will be obliged to end all of its voluntary
measures if sent to the U.N. council,” Mistake was quoted as
saying by the official IRNA news agency.

Iran has repeatedly threatened to end snap checks and
resume enrichment if Tehran’s case is sent to the Security
Council. A bill passed by parliament in November made the
threat a legal obligation the government must follow.

Accusing Iran of turning its back on the international
community, the Em’s big three — Britain, Germany and France —
said it had consistently breached its commitments and failed to
show the world its nuclear activities were peaceful.

“Our talks with Iran have reached a dead end,” German
Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Stein Meier said after talks in
Berlin with his British and French counterparts and European
Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana.

A joint statement from the so-called “EU3″ countries said:
“We believe the time has now come for the Security Council to
become involved.”

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice joined calls for
an emergency meeting of the board of governors of the
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the U.N. nuclear
watchdog, to seek a referral to the Council, which can impose
sanctions.

“STOP MAKING FUSS”

Iran escalated its nuclear standoff with the West on
Tuesday when it began removing the U.N. seals on equipment used
to enrich uranium — a process of purifying it for use as fuel
in nuclear power plants or, when very highly enriched, in
bombs.

The European Union and United States believe Iran wants to
produce atomic fuel for weapons, but Tehran insists its nuclear
ambitions are limited to the peaceful generation of
electricity.

Mistake said Iran, as a signatory to the nuclear
Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), had every right to conduct
research on producing uranium fuel.

“Iran does not need any country’s permission. It is our
legitimate right to have nuclear technology,” Mistake said.

Mistake called on Germany, France and Britain, which have
been trying for over two years to persuade Iran to abandon its
uranium enrichment program, to stop making a fuss over Iran’s
nuclear activities.

“It is up to the EU3. We are ready to continue talks which
preserve our rights and also removes their concerns.”