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Tehran & Vienna: Iran announced on Tuesday it would resume nuclear fuel research, a move sure to anger Washington and the European Union. Mohammad Saeedi, deputy head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organisation, said Tehran had informed the UN nuclear watchdog in writing that the nuclear work would resume shortly. "Within the next few days we will start researching that field in cooperation and coordination with the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency)," he told state television. In Vienna, the IAEA urged Iran to "maintain its suspension of all enrichment-related activity" after receiving the letter from Tehran announcing the resumption of nuclear fuel research. The news coincided with strong hints from Iran's Foreign Ministry that Tehran planned to reject a Russian compromise proposal aimed at defusing Iran's nuclear row with the West.
The two developments were likely to spark renewed calls in the West for the case to be referred to the UN Security Council, where Iran could face political or economic sanctions. A referral vote could be held at the next meeting of the IAEA's 35-nation governing board, scheduled for March 6. At its last session in November, the board opted to put off any vote to give time for Russia's proposal to bear fruit. "The latest moves by Iran may strengthen the hands of those who want to report this matter to the Security Council at the March board," said a senior diplomat close to the IAEA, referring to the European Union and United States.
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