Iran halts UN’s nuclear inspections

IRAN ended all voluntary cooperation with the UN nuclear watchdog yesterday but said it was open to a proposal to enrich Iranian uranium in Russia, softening its earlier response to being reported to the UN Security Council over fears it wants to produce nuclear arms.

Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said Iran had implemented the president's orders to resume uranium enrichment and bar snap inspections by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) of its nuclear facilities measures it allowed in recent years in a gesture to build trust.

"We ended all the voluntary co-operation we have been extending to the IAEA on the basis of the president's order," Mr Mottaki said.

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad ordered the move on Saturday in response to the UN agency's decision to refer Iran to the Security Council, which could impose sanctions.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Hamid Reza Asefi, said Iran was open to negotiations on Moscow's proposal that Iran shift its uranium enrichment plan to Russian territory. The plan is intended to allay fears Iran might use the process to develop a nuclear bomb.

Uranium enriched to a low degree is used as fuel. Highly enriched uranium is suitable for atomic bombs.

Mr Asefi said the door for negotiations "is still open."

Russian Defence Minister Sergei Ivanov said he hoped Tehran would accept the proposal.

On Saturday, German Chancellor Angela Merkel likened Iran's nuclear plans to the rise of the Nazis.

Ms Merkel said countries around the world underestimated the Nazi threat as Adolf Hitler rose to power.

"When National Socialism (Nazism) was on the rise, there were many outside Germany who said 'It's only rhetoric don't get excited'," she said.

"We must prevent Iran from developing its nuclear programme." As she was speaking near the Munich pub where Hitler launched his 1923 Beer Hall Putsch the IAEA passed the vote to refer Iran to the UN.