TEHRAN, 26 June 2004 — Iran’s top national security official has written to the International Atomic Energy Agency and the three main European powers to respond to a resolution critical of its cooperation, a Foreign Ministry spokesman said yesterday.
However the official refused to confirm or deny that the letter announced a resumption in production of centrifuges used for uranium enrichment, despite a three-month-old deal with the Europeans to halt such work.
“Hassan Rowhani has sent a letter to the foreign ministers of France, Germany and Britain as well as to (IAEA chief) Mohamed El-Baradei”, Hamid Reza Asefi said.
He added only that the message from Rowhani, head of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council and top nuclear negotiator, “outlined Iran’s point of view on nuclear technology and its use.”
In Washington Thursday, John Bolton, US undersecretary of state for arms control and international security, said the announcement was a direct violation of Iranian pledges to the three European powers and proof of Iran’s intent to reprocess uranium as part of a covert nuclear weapons program.
“This is an act of defiance of the IAEA board of governors, it is a thumb in the eye of the international community,” Bolton told the international relations committee of the US House of Representatives.
Iran promised France, Germany and Britain last October that it would suspend all activities related to uranium enrichment, a process of purifying uranium for use as fuel for nuclear power plants or weapons, in exchange for peaceful nuclear technology.
Centrifuges are machines that purify uranium gas by spinning at supersonic speeds. Germany and Britain yesterday also condemned Iran’s decision to resume production of centrifuge parts and said they would work with France on a response.
“We are disappointed at the announcement to resume (production), which is not justified from our perspective. We regret it,” a spokeswoman from Germany’s Foreign Ministry said.
London’s Foreign Office echoed Germany’s remarks. “We are disappointed by Iran’s decision and are working with our partners about what to do,” said a spokesman.
Germany, France and Britain would coordinate what steps to take next, the German spokeswoman added.
One European source said although it was too early to draw conclusions, it was possible the letter meant Iran had reneged on its agreement, which could have serious implications for the European Union’s engagement with Iran.
That source said it was unclear what would be the best course of action to take if Germany, Britain and France if that were the case.
Iran insists its nuclear program is directed solely towards generating electricity. But a week ago the IAEA adopted a resolution sponsored by the EU three that criticized Tehran for failing to live up to its pledges of total cooperation with the Vienna-based watchdog.
