Iran rejects UN nuclear demands

The following is a copy of a BBC Middle East report confirming that Iran rejects UN nuclear demands.

The UN wants Iran to end all enrichment activities.

Iran has said it will not agree to halt uranium enrichment, despite the UN nuclear watchdog's call for a suspension of all such activities. It will also block snap sites checks if the issue goes to the Security Council.

"Iran will not accept any obligation regarding the suspension of uranium enrichment," chief nuclear negotiator Hassan Rohani said.

Uranium enrichment can be used to make nuclear weapons, but Iran says its programme is for peaceful purposes.

"If they want to send Iran to the Security Council, it is not wise, and we will stop implementing the Additional Protocol," Mr Rohani told a news conference in Tehran.

This demand is illegal and does not put any obligation on Iran. The IAEA board of governors has no right to make such a suspension obligatory for any country 

Hassan Rohani is Iran's chief nuclear negotiator. The Additional Protocol to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty allows snap nuclear checks.

"We are committed to the suspension of actual enrichment, but we have no decision to expand the suspension," Mr Rohani said.

"This demand is illegal and does not put any obligation on Iran. The IAEA board of governors has no right to make such a suspension obligatory for any country."

Iran suspended enrichment a year ago as a confidence-building measure, but has continued support activities such as building the centrifuges that refine the uranium.

European rift

Iran also accused Britain, France and Germany of breaking an accord reached last year on Iran's co-operation with the IAEA.

The Board of Governors considers it necessary, to promote confidence, that Iran immediately suspend all enrichment-related activities 

"The three Europeans have violated the terms of the accord regarding enrichment because the suspension of enrichment was voluntary," Mr Rohani said.

In its resolution, the IAEA said its board of governors had judged that an Iranian promise made to the three European nations last year to suspend uranium enrichment activities had fallen short of expectations.

On Saturday, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) passed a resolution calling on Iran to suspend all uranium enrichment activities and asked Iran to grant access to its inspectors.

The resolution imposes an implicit deadline of 25 November, when the IAEA board of governors is next set to meet and review Iran's alleged nuclear weapons programme.

The IAEA keeps open the option of further steps if Iran fails to comply with its demands that could include taking Tehran before the UN Security Council.

It is investigating suspicions that Iran is enriching uranium to make weapons in secret, but Iran says it has a right to enrich uranium as part of its peaceful nuclear programme, including power generation.