Iran resumes nuclear research

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Iran removed U.N. seals at its Natanz uranium-enrichment plant and resumed nuclear-fuel research yesterday, provoking immediate condemnation from the United States and Europe along with renewed threats of Security Council action.

U.S. and European officials began intensive discussions on how to respond to Tehran's move, focusing on a possible emergency meeting of the International Atomic Energy Agency's (IAEA) board of governors in Vienna, Austria.

Iran informed the IAEA, the U.N. nuclear watchdog, of its intention to start "small-scale" uranium-enrichment work, the agency said yesterday.

Director General Mohamed ElBaradei "expressed his serious concern about Iran's decision to unravel the suspension of enrichment-related activities requested by the IAEA board of governors before the agency has clarified the nature of Iran's nuclear program," the agency said.

The new development makes it more likely that the IAEA will refer Iran to the Security Council for consideration of sanctions, Western diplomats said.

"We view this as a serious escalation on the part of Iran on the nuclear issue," said State Department spokesman Sean McCormack.

"If the regime in Iran continues on the current course and fails to abide by its international obligations, there is no other choice but to refer the matter to the Security Council," said White House spokesman Scott McClellan.

But the United States is not preparing to attack Iran, he said. The United States is "working with the international community to resolve this in a peaceful and diplomatic manner."

Tehran agreed last year to suspend uranium enrichment pending talks with Britain, France and Germany, which have offered economic and other incentives if Iran abandons its nuclear ambitions.

French President Jacques Chirac said yesterday in Paris that the Iranians "would be making a serious mistake if they failed to grasp the hand we are extending to them."