Despite warnings, Iran plans to resume nuclear program
Tehran, Iran ? Iran said Wednesday it would resume uranium enrichment and warned it might quit cooperating with the International Atomic Energy Agency, which it accused of kowtowing to Washington at a crucial meeting in Vienna, Austria.
Separately, Defense Minister Ali Shamkhani told reporters the Iranian military had built nuclear centrifuges for civilian use — the first time Iran has acknowledged its military was involved in the country’s nuclear program.
IAEA Director General Mohamed ElBaradei warned that Iran risked undermining its efforts to convince the world its nuclear intentions were peaceful.
“I think suspension is … a good confidence-building measure, and Iran needs to do everything possible right now to create the confidence required,” ElBaradei said Wednesday in Vienna, where the U.N. atomic agency’s board of governors was meeting.
The agency’s 35-nation board of governors was preparing for a debate today on whether Iran is living up to its pledge to full transparency on its nuclear program.
The United States, which suspects Iran is building nuclear arms, wants a draft resolution on Iran to take a tough line because of evidence of secrecy. But the Europeans want to acknowledge Iran has made substantial, if not complete, steps toward openness.
A draft obtained by The Associated Press said the agency noted “with the most serious concern” that Iran’s declarations “did not amount to the correct, complete and final picture of Iran’s past and present nuclear program.”
But it also praised Iran for signing an agreement that granted a free hand to IAEA inspectors.
Iran’s chief delegate to the IAEA, Pirouz Hosseini, told reporters outside the board of governors meeting that Iran was unhappy with the draft and accused the United States of putting pressure on the Europeans.
“We have never been involved in any nuclear weapons program … and the Americans don’t want to accept the fact,” Hosseini said.
In Tehran, Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi accused the world body of failing to reciprocate.
“We told (the IAEA) that cooperation should be bilateral. We take steps and expect the other side to take steps. It can’t go one-sided,” Kharrazi said.

