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10/01/2006
Britain 'concerned' by Iran nuclear move
Foreign Secretary Jack Straw has expressed concerns over the re-starting of Iran's nuclear research programme.
The International Atomic Energy Agency removed seals from some nuclear research facilities in the country, after two years.
Iran has insisted that the research is purely to develop nuclear power and not nuclear weapons, but there has been widespread concern among Western countries that they will try to develop weapons.
Commenting on the news today, Mr Straw said: "We are profoundly concerned that Iran has decided to restart research and development activities related to uranium enrichment.
"This amounts to yet another breach of IAEA Board resolutions, as well as the Paris Agreement that Iran signed with the UK, France and Germany in November 2004.
"There was no good reason why Iran should have taken this step if its intentions are truly peaceful and it wanted to resolve longstanding international concerns."
However, Mohammed Saeedi, deputy head of the IAEA said: "What we resume is merely in the field of research, not more than that. We make a difference between research on nuclear fuel technology and production of nuclear fuel. Production of nuclear fuel remains suspended."
Iran faces possible sanctions from the United Nations Security Council over the action.
Mr Straw is due to meet with French and German colleagues in the next few days to discuss the decision."
(KMcA/GB)
The International Atomic Energy Agency removed seals from some nuclear research facilities in the country, after two years.
Iran has insisted that the research is purely to develop nuclear power and not nuclear weapons, but there has been widespread concern among Western countries that they will try to develop weapons.
Commenting on the news today, Mr Straw said: "We are profoundly concerned that Iran has decided to restart research and development activities related to uranium enrichment.
"This amounts to yet another breach of IAEA Board resolutions, as well as the Paris Agreement that Iran signed with the UK, France and Germany in November 2004.
"There was no good reason why Iran should have taken this step if its intentions are truly peaceful and it wanted to resolve longstanding international concerns."
However, Mohammed Saeedi, deputy head of the IAEA said: "What we resume is merely in the field of research, not more than that. We make a difference between research on nuclear fuel technology and production of nuclear fuel. Production of nuclear fuel remains suspended."
Iran faces possible sanctions from the United Nations Security Council over the action.
Mr Straw is due to meet with French and German colleagues in the next few days to discuss the decision."
(KMcA/GB)
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