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Iran 'to resume enrichment work' Ahmadinejad rejects UN sanctions
(about 2 hours later)
Iran says it will immediately resume uranium enrichment activities, one day after the UN Security Council imposed sanctions on Tehran. Iran's president has rejected UN Security Council sanctions against Tehran, insisting his country would press ahead with its nuclear programme.
The country's top nuclear negotiator, Ali Larijani, said Iran would work on installing 3,000 centrifuges at Natanz, a key nuclear plant in central Iran. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said the resolution passed on Saturday was a "piece of paper" adding that those who voted in favour would regret their choice.
The UN sanctions, passed unanimously, ban the supply of nuclear materials to Iran and freeze some assets overseas. Iran has said it will begin installing 3,000 centrifuges at a uranium enrichment plant at Natanz on Sunday.
US officials have already called for tougher measures. The sanctions ban nuclear trade with Iran, but the US wants tougher curbs.
The resolution demands that Tehran end all uranium enrichment work, which can produce fuel for nuclear plants as well as for bombs. Mr Ahmadinejad said the West had lost its chance to improve relations with Iran by pushing for sanctions.
The uranium enrichment plant at Natanz was shut down in 2003 but was re-opened and is earmarked for expansion. "They seek to mobilise a group of their agents on the pretext of this piece of paper in order to sow seeds of discord among the Iranian nation," the Iranian Fars news agency reported him as saying.
[The Security Council] will not only have no influence but make us more determined to pursue our nuclear goals even faster Ali LarijaniIranian nuclear negotiator href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/6206777.stm" class="">Reaction in quotes href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/spl/hi/sci_nat/05/nuclear_fuel/html/mining.stm" class="">Nuclear fuel cycle Traces of weapons-grade uranium were found at the plant during UN inspections in 2003, although this was later blamed on contaminated imported equipment. "No matter [whether] they accept it or not, Iran is now an established nuclear state and it is in their interest to live along the Iranian nation."
Natanz work
Earlier, the country's top nuclear negotiator, Ali Larijani, said Iran would work on installing 3,000 centrifuges at Natanz, a key nuclear plant in central Iran.
Iran is now an established nuclear state and it is in [the West's] interest to live along the Iranian nation Mahmoud AhmadinejadIranian president Reaction in quotes Nuclear fuel cycle A foreign ministry spokesman said the "continuation of peaceful nuclear activities" would be Iran's "best response" to the UN sanctions.
The sanctions, passed unanimously, ban the supply of nuclear materials to Iran and freeze some assets overseas.
The Security Council resolution demands that Tehran end all uranium enrichment work, which can produce fuel for nuclear plants as well as for bombs.
Traces of weapons-grade uranium were found at Natanz during UN inspections in 2003, although this was later blamed on contaminated imported equipment.
Iran wants to install thousands of centrifuges at Natanz, enabling a vital stage of the process of enriching uranium into weapons-grade material.Iran wants to install thousands of centrifuges at Natanz, enabling a vital stage of the process of enriching uranium into weapons-grade material.
"Our immediate response to the UN Security Council is that, as of today, we will start the activities at the site of the 3,000 centrifuge machines in Natanz and we will go ahead with full speed," Mr Larijani told the conservative Kayhan newspaper.
"Previously we said repeatedly that if the Westerners wanted to exploit the UN Security Council it will not only have no influence but make us more determined to pursue our nuclear goals even faster."
Sanctions 'warning'Sanctions 'warning'
The Security Council backed sanctions against Iran after intense debate over the terms of the resolution.The Security Council backed sanctions against Iran after intense debate over the terms of the resolution.
The vote by the 15-member council took place exactly two months after Britain, France and Germany first introduced a draft resolution proposing sanctions.The vote by the 15-member council took place exactly two months after Britain, France and Germany first introduced a draft resolution proposing sanctions.
UN SANCTIONS ON IRAN Ban on import and export of nuclear-related materialAssets frozen of 10 companies and 12 individualsThreat of further non-military sanctions The resolution, under Chapter Seven of Article 41 of the UN Charter, makes enforcement obligatory but limits action to non-military measures.UN SANCTIONS ON IRAN Ban on import and export of nuclear-related materialAssets frozen of 10 companies and 12 individualsThreat of further non-military sanctions The resolution, under Chapter Seven of Article 41 of the UN Charter, makes enforcement obligatory but limits action to non-military measures.
At the Security Council, acting US Ambassador Alejandro Wolff said the resolution sent a "warning" to Iran over the council's intentions.At the Security Council, acting US Ambassador Alejandro Wolff said the resolution sent a "warning" to Iran over the council's intentions.
"If necessary, we will not hesitate to return to this body if Iran does not take further steps to comply," Mr Wolff said."If necessary, we will not hesitate to return to this body if Iran does not take further steps to comply," Mr Wolff said.
But a senior official at the US state department, Nicholas Burns, said the UN resolution was not enough.But a senior official at the US state department, Nicholas Burns, said the UN resolution was not enough.
He said the US would try to persuade other countries, especially Russia, to impose stronger penalties individually, including stopping banks from lending to Iran. He said the US would try to persuade other countries, especially Russia, to impose stronger penalties individually.
HAVE YOUR SAY Iran will continue enriching until the US or Israel takes military action Jonathan, Chicago Send us your comments "We don't think this resolution is enough in itself. We want to let the Iranians know that there is a big cost to them," he said.HAVE YOUR SAY Iran will continue enriching until the US or Israel takes military action Jonathan, Chicago Send us your comments "We don't think this resolution is enough in itself. We want to let the Iranians know that there is a big cost to them," he said.
However, the draft resolution was amended several times after objections from both the Russians and Chinese, who both have close financial ties with Iran. The draft resolution was amended several times after objections from both the Russians and Chinese, which have close financial ties with Iran.
The text was watered down to take account of Russian concerns over such provisions as a freeze on the assets abroad of specific Iranian individuals and organisations. It was watered down to take account of Russian concerns over such provisions as a freeze on the assets abroad of specific Iranian individuals and organisations.
Russia is building a nuclear power station in Iran and China has significant oil interests there.Russia is building a nuclear power station in Iran and China has significant oil interests there.
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has threatened to reconsider relations with those countries which support sanctions.