Iran to resume more atomic work

Iran yesterday announced it would resume atomic fuel research and development next week, raising the spectre of a fresh showdown with the West which suspects Tehran wants nuclear technology to build bombs.

The news coincided with strong hints from Iran's Foreign Ministry that Tehran would reject a Russian compromise proposal aimed at defusing Iran's nuclear row with the West.

The two developments were likely to spark renewed calls from Washington and the European Union for the case to be referred to the US Security Council, where Iran could face political or economic sanctions.

"The Atomic Energy Organisation of Iran has decided to resume from January 9, 2006, R&D (research and development) on the peaceful nuclear energy programme which was suspended," Iran said in a note delivered to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Vienna.

Diplomats said the move, which follows Iran's resumption of uranium conversion in August, was a serious blow to diplomatic efforts to resolve the dispute over Iran's nuclear programme.

"This does not help the process," said an EU diplomat, referring to efforts by the EU trio of Britain, Germany and France to find a negotiated solution to the standoff.

A resumption of nuclear research and development, frozen voluntarily by Iran two years ago to defuse international pressure over its atomic ambitions, may include the manufacture and assembly of centrifuges used for uranium enrichment, the most sensitive part of the nuclear fuel cycle. It could also include some small-scale enrichment tests.