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Iran warns IAEA of confrontation over referral
Iran has warned that it would view the UN atomic watchdog's adopting European proposals to bring it before the Security Council as a "confrontation," in comments by a senior Iranian official.The European Union has two draft proposals being circulated at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) which is to meet later Friday. If either is adopted: "We consider them a confrontation because in both texts there is a reference and room for the Security Council," Iranian National Security Council deputy chief Javad Vaidi told reporters on Friday. But Vaidi said the EU, and the United States, are have a "serious difficulty" winning a consensus for either measure at the IAEA's 35-nation board of governors which is meeting in Vienna this week. "It is the issue going out of the IAEA that we will consider the track of confrontation," Vaidi said, adding that Iran wants "peaceful resolution of this issue and dialogue and of course negotiation." The Security Council could at first urge cooperation and then impose sanctions to get Iran to stop work on the first steps of making nuclear fuel that has raised fears it might be secretly developing atomic weapons. Iran insists its nuclear programme is for peaceful purposes only but has said it will react to Security Council referral by limiting cooperation with IAEA inspections and carry out the final steps in making nuclear fuel. In Tehran, the head of Iran's powerful Revolutionary Guards warned Friday that the imposition of sanctions on the Islamic republic over its nuclear programme could push the price of oil to 100 dollars a barrel. "Any sanction against Iran can make the oil price reach 100 dollars a barrel," General Yahya Rahim Safavi said in a speech to worshippers attending Friday prayers in Tehran. Iran is OPEC's second largest producer. "Any economic and political pressure on Iran from any power ... will result in a harsh reaction from Iran," he added. The Islamic republic, the general asserted, "has a solid and unbeatable defence potential (and) can retaliate and attack the interests of the enemies in remote places." Posted by: Dan Darling 2005-09-26 |
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