WASHINGTON, D.C.

Official says Iran could make nuclear weapons in few years

Iran has informed British, French and German officials it could produce weapons-grade uranium within a year and a nuclear weapon no more than three years after that, Undersecretary of State John R. Bolton said Thursday.

“These Iranian assertions give the lie to their public contention that their nuclear program is entirely civil and peaceful in purpose,” Bolton said in an interview.

Bolton said Iran was making veiled threats in an effort to head off U.N. consideration of sanctions or other forms of punishment.

The United States is expected to request U.N. Security Council action if the International Atomic Energy Agency condemns Iraq at a board of governors meeting Sept. 13 in Vienna.

Bolton said the administration was consulting with British, French and German officials, as well as with Russia, Japan and other governments, in preparation for the IAEA meeting.

Oklahoma

Terry Nichols won’t appeal, says it’s for the families

Oklahoma City bombing conspirator Terry Nichols will not appeal his state murder convictions for his role in the 1995 bombing of the Oklahoma City federal building, his attorney said Thursday.

Nichols’ attorneys had been advising him against appealing the 161 convictions because an appeal could mean a new trial and another opportunity for prosecutors to seek the death penalty. Nichols was sentenced to life in prison Aug. 9 because his state jury had deadlocked on whether he should be executed.

In a brief statement, attorney Brian Hermanson said Nichols did not want to prolong the pain for victims’ families.

“As he said in his sentencing, Terry sincerely hopes that the final conclusion of this case will be the beginning of a long-awaited healing process for all those impacted by the bombing.”

JERUSALEM

Sharon, Arafat defy backers’ demands to change policies

Embattled leaders Ariel Sharon and Yasser Arafat rebuffed demands from their backers Thursday, holding steadfast to positions posing great political risk: Sharon insisted he would press on with efforts to pull out of Gaza despite a stinging rebuke from his party, while Arafat refused to sign reform legislation.

The internal power struggles foreshadowed difficulties for Sharon’s plan to evacuate all 21 Jewish settlements in Gaza and four in the West Bank, as well as hopes for meaningful reform of the corruption-plagued Palestinian administration and its security forces.

The political struggles played out against a backdrop of violence.

Israeli soldiers shot and killed an 18-year-old Palestinian in the southern Gaza town of Rafah, witnesses and hospital officials said.

Two others were wounded, including a 13-year-old boy. Witnesses said the shooting was unprovoked. The army said soldiers fired at two Palestinians in an off-limits zone, hitting one.