After the submission by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) of a report on Iran’s latest activities to the 15-member Security Council, Ban Ki-moon said Friday he was “deeply concerned” that Iran had not met the United Nations deadline to freeze uranium enrichment - a possible pathway to nuclear arms -, and has instead expanded its program by setting up hundreds of centrifuges. He stressed that the country’s nuclear programme had great implications for peace, stability and the non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.
In its report, the IAEA said that Tehran has continued to build a heavy-water reactor and related facilities, which, along with enrichment, could help it develop nuclear arms. In addition, the report said Iran ignored the Security Council call to cooperate with the IAEA in its efforts to shed light on suspicious nuclear activities. This Iranian behaviour paves the way for new U.N. sanctions.
In this way, the American Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice warned Iran it would face further punishment and isolation if it forges ahead, but she said the United States and other world powers are prepared to restart talks if the Iranian government suspends its most controversial nuclear activities, theWashington Post reported.
In December, the Security Council imposed sanctions, banning trade of all materials, equipment, goods and technology that could contribute to Iran’s enrichment-related, reprocessing or heavy water-related activities, or to the development of nuclear weapon delivery systems, and gave the Government until 21 February to suspend “proliferation sensitive nuclear activities”, including all enrichment-related and reprocessing activities.
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