Iran on a Fresh Plan of Uranium Enrichment

According to American and European officials alike, inspectors with the International Atomic Energy Agency, who issued a joint formal statement on Tuesday, Iran had chosen to step up uranium enrichment efforts, a decision which has been labeled as an act of defiance, given that it occurs just a few days ahead of the August 31st deadline imposed by the six-nation group, which had initially offered the nuclear incentives' package to the Tehran administration.

The inspectors stated on condition of anonymity that they intend to officially reveal Iran's new enrichment-related activities as well as the progress it made in such department in a formal thorough report, which is due out on Thursday. Still, they provided a few details related to these aspects, highlighting the fact that Iranians have adopted quite a slow rhythm in working with uranium, which had been dosed in small quantities.

In addition to that, the uranium material has been enriched at extremely low level, which in turn may mean that no danger of nuclear weapons exists as of yet. In spite of this fact, the inspectors concluded that chances regarding Iran halting the uranium enrichment schedule before the August 31st deadline are very dim.

Officials in Washington warn that they are going to adopt a UN Security Council resolution that would enforce strict sanctions on the Tehran administration, should it fail to cooperate in accepting the incentives and stop nuclear work: "We've seen no indication that Iran intends to comply with the U.N. Security Council's condition of suspending its nuclear program. Should it not comply by Thursday, and should the IAEA report confirm Iran's continued efforts to enrich uranium, the U.S. will move to begin sanctions discussion at the United Nations, and we expect a sanctions resolution to be passed", R. Nicholas Burns, the Undersecretary of State and top diplomat on the Iran's nuclear issues, stated. He added that he would meet Russian and Chinese diplomats next week in Berlin to persuade them to join the sanctions' idea.

On the other hand, European officials are less eager to move forward with sanctions, declaring that they are arranging a meeting with Iranian top nuclear negotiator, Ali Larijani, later this week. "A tough report puts the focus back on Iran, which has broken rules and has failed to cooperate, and takes it away from this perception that the U.S. is just bullying Iran. An IAEA report that calls it like it is makes it hard for countries to walk away from the issue because it will be clear that it isn't getting better", George Perkovich, vice president at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, asserted.