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Teheran positions gas centrifuges used for uranium enrichment at Natanz facility
DUBAI: The nuclear standoff between Iran and key Western countries has intensified with Teheran removing the seals in an atomic research facility after a two-and-a half years gap.
The seals were removed in the presence of inspectors belonging to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in the Iranian nuclear facility at Natanz, 256 km south of Teheran. By resuming research, Iran appears to have revived all aspects of its atomic programme except enrichment of uranium.
Enriched uranium can be used for generating electricity, but can be
used in atomic weapons if purified to a high degree. The United States
has alleged that Iran intends to make nuclear weapons, and has led an
international campaign to prevent it from doing so.
"No fuel production"
However, Mohammad Saeedi, the deputy head of Iran's Atomic Energy
Organisation, clarified that Iran was not resuming the production of
nuclear fuel, which would involve uranium enrichment.
"What we resume is merely in the field of research, not more than that," he said at a press conference.
He said there was a difference between "research on nuclear fuel
technology and production of nuclear fuel", and added that "production
of nuclear fuel remains suspended."
Despite Iranian assurances, IAEA spokesperson Melissa Fleming declined
to comment on whether Iran planned to start enrichment or merely test
the equipment used in the process. She said all the 35 countries on the
IAEA's board of governors would be informed about Iranian intentions.
Iran has positioned gas centrifuges used for uranium enrichment in its
facility in Natanz.
Responding to the Iranian decision, Germany on Monday said that the move was "very, very ominous."
In Washington, the Bush administration warned that Iran maybe referred
to the U.N. Security Council for possible sanctions over its decision.
Russia, however, emphasised that dialogue with Iran under the IAEA framework was the best way forward.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Ivanov told Russian television, "On the
whole, I think that this problem must be resolved primarily within the
political and diplomatic framework, and on the current stage, within
the IAEA framework."
Iran has denied that it intends to build atomic weapons, and has
stressed that it has a right to fully develop a peaceful nuclear
programme under the terms and conditions of the Nuclear
Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), which it has signed.
Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Monday said Iran would not give up its nuclear programme.
Meanwhile, Iran and Russia would hold fresh talks centred on uranium enrichment on February 16.
Source: Hindu
Atul Aneja
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