Iran May Resume Nuclear Activity

Iran threatened Sunday to restart some suspended activities that could be used to make nuclear weapons if European negotiators did not immediately offer a promised package of incentives to entice Tehran to freeze its atomic program.

A senior European diplomat said the negotiators from Britain, France and Germany were just days away from making Tehran an offer that could include guarantees that Iran would not be invaded if it agreed to permanently halt uranium enrichment.

But Iranian negotiator Hassan Rowhani turned up the pressure for an immediate proposal by warning that Iran was preparing to restart uranium reprocessing at its Esfahan Nuclear Conversion Facility, the state-run Islamic Republic News Agency reported. Uranium enriched to high levels can be used for nuclear bombs; at low levels it is used in nuclear energy plants.

Iran’s top officials were to decide Sunday evening whether to restart the Esfahan plant, said Ali Agha Mohammedi, a spokesman for Iran’s Supreme National Security Council. The comments triggered alarm in Paris, London and Vienna, where the United Nations nuclear monitoring agency is headquartered.

Iran suspended uranium enrichment in November under international pressure led by the U.S., which suspects Tehran’s nuclear program is aimed at trying to make weapons.

Iran says its program is for power production only and has long said its decision to suspend all uranium enrichment-related activities was voluntary and temporary.

France, Britain and Germany, acting on behalf of the 25-nation European Union, had been expected to present their package to Iran by the beginning of August, but they requested a delay until next Sunday. A European diplomat said the three nations planned to present their deal this week and would not be rushed.

The package could include nuclear fuel, nuclear technology and security guarantees, the diplomat said.

If Iran does resume production of uranium gas, the Europeans would call for an emergency International Atomic Energy Agency board meeting, the diplomat said. That meeting would likely set a deadline for Iran to stop all enrichment-related activities.