Iran says preparing to restart suspended nuclear activities

The Jerusalem Post:

Jul. 31, 2005 22:13

TEHERAN, Iran

Tired of waiting for European negotiators to make a proposal in return for a nuclear freeze, Iran said Sunday it is preparing to restart some of its suspended atomic activities.

The statement triggered alarms in Paris, London and Vienna, with a British official labeling it a "dangerous step" and a European diplomat saying the EU was just days away from making Teheran a "generous" offer, including nuclear fuel, technology and other aid.

The European offer would also include "security guarantees" that Iran won't be invaded if it permanently halts uranium enrichment and related activities, European and Iranian officials confirmed.

But a senior European diplomat accredited to the Vienna-based International Atomic Energy Agency qualified the security pledge, saying nobody could give a "100 percent guarantee" against invasion.

Iran's nuclear negotiator Hasan Rowhani held out the possibility of a coming "understanding" with the EU negotiators, but he warned that Iran was readying to restart uranium reprocessing work at its Isfahan Nuclear Conversion Facility, according to a report by the state Islamic Republic News Agency.

The Isfahan plant converts uranium ore concentrate, known as yellowcake, into uranium gas, the feedstock for enrichment. Uranium enriched to high levels can be used for nuclear bombs; at low levels it is used as fuel for nuclear energy plants.

Iran's top officials were to decide Sunday evening whether to restart the plant, said Ali Agha Mohammadi, a spokesman for Iran's Supreme National Security Council.

"Europe has only a few hours, up to when the council meets, (to file its) proposal. If it does not arrive by that time, the council will discuss breaking the ice" on Iran's stalled nuclear program, Agha Mohammadi told state radio Sunday.

But the IAEA official in Vienna said the Europeans would present their proposal to Iran next week. The proposal was not yet finished, the official added, speaking on condition of anonymity.

If Iran restarts the Isfahan facility, the Europeans would call an emergency IAEA board meeting, the IAEA official said. Such a meeting is likely set a deadline for the Iranians to "see the error of their ways" and stop their enrichment activities.

If such a deadline were not met, then the Europeans - with American support - would push to refer Iran to the UN Security Council for breaking their promise to desist from enrichment while talks were under way. The council could impose sanctions on Iran.

In London, a Foreign Office official warned that restarting work in Isfahan would be a damaging step. Earlier this week, French President Jacques Chirac said France's goal was to get Teheran's guarantees to renounce all enrichment activities, and if it was unsuccessful, "the question should be taken to the Security Council."

Iran suggested Sunday that the IAEA officials who are in Teheran this week might oversee the resumption of uranium reprocessing in Isfahan.

"We would like to unseal the equipment and carry on the activity under the IAEA," said Hamid Reza Asefi, Iran's foreign ministry spokesman.

Iran suspended enrichment of uranium last November under international pressure led by the United States, which accuses Teheran of trying to make nuclear weapons. Iran maintains its program is peaceful and has long said its decision to suspend all uranium enrichment-related activities was voluntary and temporary.

France, Britain and Germany, acting on behalf of the 25-nation European Union, had been expected to present the proposals to Iran by the beginning of August, but they requested a delay until Aug. 7.

Iran refused to wait, and said it would write the UN nuclear agency about its plans.President Mohammad Khatami, who will be replaced Aug. 6 by conservative president-elect Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, said last week that Iran would resume some suspended activities, with or without European consent.