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Iran breaks seals at nuclear site, set to begin fuel research

Atul Aneja

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.

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