IRAN yesterday threatened to resume its uranium enrichment programme — a key process in building a nuclear bomb — if the UN passes a resolution reprimanding Tehran for not co-operating with weapons inspectors.
Speaking ahead of a meeting of the 35-member states of the UN’s International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), President Khatami said that the draft resolution prepared by Britain, France and Germany was “very bad” and that Iran would reject it.
“If this resolution passes Iran will have no moral commitment to suspend uranium enrichment,” he said after a Cabinet meeting in Tehran.
Kenneth Brill, the US envoy to the IAEA in Vienna, accused Tehran of concealing a weapons programme.
“The basic message that Iran is sending is that they have something to hide and they’re going to use any means they have, including intimidation, to keep (it) from coming to light,” he said.
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Diplomats in Vienna said that the war of words between Washington and Tehran was part of the “brinkmanship” that preceeds every IAEA vote on Iran. They predicted that the European resolution would be passed by tomorrow.