Iran resumes nuclear work; the West scrambles

[Joanne98]

Iran resumes nuclear work; the West scrambles

International Atomic Energy Agency to hold an emergency meeting Tuesday - a step closer toward a showdown at UN.

By Howard LaFranchi | Staff writer of The Christian Science Monitor

WASHINGTON – - Iran's resumption of uranium conversion Monday is set to be taken up at an emergency meeting of the International Atomic Energy Agency Tuesday - a move that could result in referral of the Iranian nuclear issue to the United Nations Security Council.
The council, in turn, could set in motion an international effort to isolate Iran politically and economically, something Iran has long wished to avoid.
The flurry of activity over Iran followed the Islamic Republic's terse rejection over the weekend of a European offer of economic incentives, including help with nuclear-energy generation, in exchange for verifiably giving up all nuclear activities that could lead to a bomb. The events represent a ratcheting up of a confrontation with the West that some officials in the United States have long considered inevitable, given their assumption that Iran is determined to join the nuclear club.

Western officials likened Iran's step to an "in-your-face move" by a nation in a political transition, with a new president in tune with the reigning conservative mullahs. But Iranian officials, who insist their nuclear program is for peaceful purposes, say the activity is part of Iran's right to develop nuclear power.


http://www.csmonitor.com/2005/0809/p02s01-wogi.html