Iran refuses to give in to Security Council
The US, France and Britain say if Iran does not meet today’s UN Security Council deadline to stop enriching uranium, they will seek to make the demand compulsory. The Security Council is also likely to consider punitive measures.
Iran has rejected the Security Council’s deadline.
Mr Ahmadinejad announced earlier this month that Iran had produced enriched uranium for the first time.
Mohamed ElBaradei, the head of UN nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency, will report today on Iran’s compliance with the Security Council’s demand.
Uranium enrichment can produce fuel for nuclear power or material for nuclear warheads.
Mr Ahmadinejad also warned the US and its European allies that they would regret a decision to “violate the rights of the Iranian nation”.
“The Iranian nation has acquired nuclear fuel production technology. It didn’t get assistance from anybody and nobody can take it back,” Mr Ahmadinejad told thousands of people in western Iran. His comments were broadcast live on state television.
“They must know that the Iranian nation will not give in one iota to oppression,” Mr Ahmadinejad said.
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said at a NATO foreign ministers’ meeting that the credibility of the UN was at stake.
“I think it goes without saying that the US believes... that in order to be credible the Security Council has to act,” she said.
“The Security Council is the primary and most important institution for the maintenance of peace and stability, and it cannot have its will and its word simply ignored by a member state.”
Security Council members China and Russia, who are reluctant to impose sanctions on Iran, urged all parties to not act hastily.
“We hope the relevant parties can keep calm and exercise restraint to avoid moves that would further escalate the situation,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said.
Russian President Vladimir Putin, in Siberia with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, said: “It’s still too early to run ahead and say what decision we might take together.”
He reiterated Russia’s position in support of the non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and Iran’s right to develop nuclear energy for power generation.
“Iran must have an opportunity to develop modern technologies and peaceful nuclear energy,” Mr Putin said.
Ms Merkel also highlighted Tehran’s obligations under the non-proliferation treaty.
“We are not talking about banning Iran from using nuclear energy for civilian goals, but it must keep to its obligations and agreements,” she said.
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