EU looks to impose ban on Iranian oil imports
Thursday, 12 January 2012
TEHRAN, January 11 (AFP): Iran's showdown with the West led to warnings that the row is sliding into dangerous territory, as international alarm over a new uranium enrichment plant raised the stakes.
Both sides were digging in on January 10, with Iran's defiance hardening and the United States and European Union actively taking steps to fracture the Iranian economy through further sanctions.
The heightened tension came after the UN atomic agency's confirmation Monday that Iran had begun enriching uranium in a new, underground bunker southwest of Tehran.
This announcement was seized upon by the US, Britain, France and Germany as an unacceptable violation of UN Security Council resolutions.
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said on January 10 there was "no plausible justification" for Iran's production of enriched uranium at a new site, again calling on Tehran to cease all such work.
In a toughening of tone from Washington, Clinton said confirmation from the UN atomic watchdog that Iran had begun enriching uranium at a new, underground bunker southwest of Tehran was "especially troubling."
China, which rejects sanctions, warned of disastrous consequences if the Iranian nuclear row escalates into conflict, while Japan said it was "very concerned".
Russia, which has relatively close ties with Iran, also voiced concern on over the new plant.
"Moscow has with regret and worry received the news of the start of work on enriching uranium at the Iranian plant," the foreign ministry was quoted as saying by the ITAR-TASS news agency.
Iran's envoy to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Ali Asghar Soltanieh, said the the West's stance was "politically motivated".
The underground Fordo plant had been revealed two years ago and documented, he said. The 20-per cent enriched uranium it was to produce would be used for "peaceful and humanitarian" purposes, namely isotopes for cancer treatment, he said.
Both Soltanieh and the IAEA stressed the UN nuclear watchdog had 24-hour cameras there and inspectors to keep it under watch.
Such assurances could not reassure Washington or its chief Middle East ally, Israel, analysts said.
"Israel, which has already warned Iran that it could take military action against installations, is very, very worried by this facility... We are moving into dangerous territory," said Mark Hibbs of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.
Both sides were digging in on January 10, with Iran's defiance hardening and the United States and European Union actively taking steps to fracture the Iranian economy through further sanctions.
The heightened tension came after the UN atomic agency's confirmation Monday that Iran had begun enriching uranium in a new, underground bunker southwest of Tehran.
This announcement was seized upon by the US, Britain, France and Germany as an unacceptable violation of UN Security Council resolutions.
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said on January 10 there was "no plausible justification" for Iran's production of enriched uranium at a new site, again calling on Tehran to cease all such work.
In a toughening of tone from Washington, Clinton said confirmation from the UN atomic watchdog that Iran had begun enriching uranium at a new, underground bunker southwest of Tehran was "especially troubling."
China, which rejects sanctions, warned of disastrous consequences if the Iranian nuclear row escalates into conflict, while Japan said it was "very concerned".
Russia, which has relatively close ties with Iran, also voiced concern on over the new plant.
"Moscow has with regret and worry received the news of the start of work on enriching uranium at the Iranian plant," the foreign ministry was quoted as saying by the ITAR-TASS news agency.
Iran's envoy to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Ali Asghar Soltanieh, said the the West's stance was "politically motivated".
The underground Fordo plant had been revealed two years ago and documented, he said. The 20-per cent enriched uranium it was to produce would be used for "peaceful and humanitarian" purposes, namely isotopes for cancer treatment, he said.
Both Soltanieh and the IAEA stressed the UN nuclear watchdog had 24-hour cameras there and inspectors to keep it under watch.
Such assurances could not reassure Washington or its chief Middle East ally, Israel, analysts said.
"Israel, which has already warned Iran that it could take military action against installations, is very, very worried by this facility... We are moving into dangerous territory," said Mark Hibbs of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.