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Iran says to end atomic site checks if sent to UN

Posted on: Friday, 13 January 2006, 02:37 CST

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."

Source: REUTERS

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