DAR AL HARB/ISLAM - THE WEST/IRAN: THE WEST, THE U.N. & THE I.A.E.A ARE IMPOTENT WHEN IT COMES TO IRANS "WE WILL DO WHATEVER WE WANT" ATTITUDE

Iran defiant on nuclear programme
By Daniel Dombey in London and Fidelius Schmid in Brussels

Iran is moving ahead with its nuclear programme and reducing access to inspectors, ignoring repeated demands by the United Nations, the UN nuclear watchdog reported on Wednesday.

The report by the International Atomic Energy Agency signals Iran’s failure to meet the latest in a series of deadlines set by the UN Security Council for Iran to suspend the process of uranium enrichment, which can produce both nuclear fuel and weapons grade material.

“Iran’s leaders are continuing down a path that puts them increasingly at odds with the international community,” said Greg Schulte, US ambassador to the IAEA.

However, the report shows that while Iran’s programme has made rapid progress during the year so far, the pace may have slackened over the past month.

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Nuclear agency: Iran still defying U.N.
By GEORGE JAHN

The U.N. nuclear monitor reported notable advances in Iran's uranium enrichment program Wednesday while warning for the first time that its knowledge of the country's nuclear activities was shrinking.

The International Atomic Energy Agency's findings, while not surprising, set the stage for possible new U.N. sanctions - the third set of penalties since December.

The report by IAEA chief Mohamed ElBaradei expressed the agency's concern about its "deteriorating" understanding of unexplored aspects of Iran's nuclear program.

That finding reflected frustration with the results of a four-year IAEA investigation opened after revelations that Iran for nearly two decades had been clandestinely developing enrichment and other nuclear activities that could be used to make weapons.

A senior U.N. diplomat, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to publicly comment on the report, suggested the shrinking hole left for inspections by Iran's rollback of previous monitoring agreements was potentially as worrying as its refusal to suspend uranium enrichment.

In Washington, Undersecretary of State Nicholas Burns said the report showed "Iran is thumbing its nose at the international community."

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IAEA says Iran building up atom program, defying UN
By Mark Heinrich

The U.N. nuclear watchdog said on Wednesday Iran was expanding its uranium enrichment program in defiance of international demands, opening the way to harsher sanctions against Tehran over fears it is seeking atom bombs.

The findings in a report by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) came on the day nine U.S. warships sailed into the Gulf for maneuvers to demonstrate American impatience with Tehran, which it also accuses of backing insurgents in Iraq.

Iran ignored another 60-day deadline for it to freeze enrichment activity set by the United Nations Security Council when it imposed a second round of sanctions on March 24.

"Iran has not suspended its enrichment-related activities. Iran has continued with operation of its pilot fuel enrichment plant and with construction of its (planned industrial) enrichment plant," said the report, obtained by Reuters.

In response, Iran said it remained committed to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), which the West suspects it is violating by using a declared civilian nuclear program as a facade for mastering the means to build warheads.

"Iran is still loyal to its commitment in carrying out the NPT," Iranian state television quoted chief nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani as saying.

Iran, which had already said it was expanding uranium enrichment, says it seeks to use nuclear technology only for power generation. Enriched uranium can be used for nuclear power plants or, if refined to a much higher degree, for bombs.

Six world powers stand behind U.N. Security Council resolutions demanding Iran suspend all nuclear fuel work in exchange for negotiations on trade incentives, with the threat of escalating sanctions if Tehran keeps refusing.

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Pertinent Links:

1) Iran defiant on nuclear programme

2) Nuclear agency: Iran still defying U.N.

3) IAEA says Iran building up atom program, defying UN