Iran
threatens to end nuclear cooperation on Saturday
AFP
TEHRAN
Petroleumworld.com 02 01 06
Iran will cease cooperating with the UN nuclear watchdog if it
refers the country's nuclear dossier to the Security Council,
Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said Tuesday.
"There is no difference between informing the Security Council
and referring (the case) to it," Mottaki said.
"In either case, if the dossier is sent to the Security Council,
Iran will cease voluntary cooperation (with the International
Atomic Energy Agency) from Saturday February 4."
Motakki also reiterated Iran's insistence that it would carry
on with its renewed nuclear research.
"We have told everyone with whom we have discussed this that
there is no question of our re-suspending our nuclear research
activities. That is irreversible. It must be stated that nuclear
research is different than industrial production of combustible
material."
The five permanent Security Council members agreed in London overnight
to take Iran's case to New York after the country resumed sensitive
nuclear fuel research work and deepened fears the clerical regime
could acquire the atom bomb.
A referral is likely to come during an emergency meeting of the
International Atomic Energy Agency's (IAEA) 35-nation board of
governors, which begins on Thursday. In a compromise with Russia,
the powers agreed to put off UN action until at least March.
Mottaki said that any decision to involve the Security Council
could affect the "Russian plan," under which Iran is
being urged to agree to conduct any enrichment activities in Russia.
"I told the Russian foreign minister that going the way of
the Security Council could endanger the 'Russian plan' itself.
"Neither the United States nor any other power can oblige
other countries to accept just anything under threat," he
added.
AFP
01/31/06
Copyright
© 2006 AFP. All rights reserved
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