By Bill Varner
“Iran has not suspended its enrichment-related activities or its work on heavy-water-related projects as required by the Security Council,” the United Nations nuclear watchdog agency said in a report. The report also said the agency can’t exclude the possibility that there is a military purpose to Iran’s nuclear program.
Iran is under three sets of UN sanctions for its refusal to halt enrichment, a process to isolate a uranium isotope needed to generate fuel for a nuclear power reactor or, in higher concentrations, to make a weapon.
The government in Tehran denies allegations by the U.S. and some of its major allies that it seeks an atomic weapon or the means to build one, insisting the nuclear work is intended to generate electricity.
U.S. President Barack Obama has said the Iranian government must respond by late September to his request for new talks on curbing its nuclear program. Iran last month said work is under way on proposals that may provide the basis for renewed talks.
The five permanent UN Security Council members and Germany will meet in Frankfurt on Sept. 2 to discuss Iran’s nuclear program, Interfax reported today, citing the Russian Foreign Ministry. Russia’s position is that tougher sanctions against Iran would be inappropriate, the Moscow-based news service reported, citing the ministry.
