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Fresh sanctions warning for Iran Iran warned on nuclear sites plan
(about 13 hours later)
Germany has warned Iran it faces new UN sanctions after Tehran announced plans for 10 uranium enrichment sites in defiance of international demands. Western nations have warned Iran not to defy international demands by building 10 uranium enrichment sites.
Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle, whose country is involved in talks on the dispute, said Iran must know the world's patience was "not endless". America's envoy to the UN called Iran's announcement "unacceptable", while the French foreign minister said Iran was playing "an extremely dangerous game".
Iran, he said, must fulfil its international commitments. Germany warned Iran to expect further sanctions if it went ahead.
Western powers say Tehran is trying to develop nuclear arms while Iran says it needs nuclear energy for its economy. The Iranian government approved the move on Sunday, days after it was rebuked by the UN nuclear watchdog for covering up a uranium enrichment plant.
The head of Iran's nuclear programme, Ali Akbar Salehi, accused the West of provoking his country into launching the plan to build 10 new plants.The head of Iran's nuclear programme, Ali Akbar Salehi, accused the West of provoking his country into launching the plan to build 10 new plants.
It is clear that if Iran rejects the outstretched hand of the international community, it must expect further sanctions Guido Westerwelle German foreign minister Q&A: Iran and the nuclear issue Iran - new sanctions on the way? Iran's key nuclear sites
However, Iran's parliamentary speaker, Ali Larijani, said he believed that a diplomatic solution was still possible.However, Iran's parliamentary speaker, Ali Larijani, said he believed that a diplomatic solution was still possible.
French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner accused Iran of "playing an extremely dangerous game" and a source in Russia's foreign ministry was quoted as saying Moscow was "seriously concerned by the latest statements of the Iranian leadership". Western powers say Tehran is trying to develop nuclear arms while Iran says it needs nuclear energy for its economy.
'Seriously concerned'
Speaking at the UN, US envoy Susan Rice denounced Tehran's move.
It is clear that if Iran rejects the outstretched hand of the international community, it must expect further sanctions Guido Westerwelle German foreign minister Q&A: Iran and the nuclear issue Iran - new sanctions on the way? Iran's key nuclear sites
"We view the Iranian announcement, if it is in fact accurate and implemented... as completely inappropriate and further isolating Iran from the international community," she said.
If Iran would not pursue a path of engagement, then the US would "put greater emphasis on the pressure track", she added.
German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle earlier made similar comments.
"It is clear that if Iran rejects the outstretched hand of the international community, it must expect further sanctions," he said.
French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner called Iran "childish", while a source in Russia's foreign ministry was quoted as saying Moscow was "seriously concerned by the latest statements of the Iranian leadership".
Asked by the BBC if military action by Israel against Iran was now more likely, Israel's ambassador to the UK, Ron Prosor, called for "all options to be on the table" without being more specific.Asked by the BBC if military action by Israel against Iran was now more likely, Israel's ambassador to the UK, Ron Prosor, called for "all options to be on the table" without being more specific.
'Without ifs and buts' Six nations - the US, UK, France, Germany, China and Russia - have been involved in co-ordinating the UN Security Council's position on Iran.
"Iran's announcement of the expansion of its uranium enrichment clearly goes in the wrong direction," Mr Westerwelle said in a statement in Berlin.
"Iran must know that the international community's patience is not endless.
"Iran is urged to co-operate with the International Atomic Energy Agency [IAEA] without ifs and buts and to fulfil its international commitments.
"It is clear that if Iran rejects the outstretched hand of the international community, it must expect further sanctions."
Germany has - along with the US, UK, France, China and Russia - been involved in co-ordinating the UN Security Council's position on Iran.
Existing UN sanctions are meant to prevent the flow of any items or technology which might aid Iran in enriching uranium or developing nuclear weapon delivery systems.Existing UN sanctions are meant to prevent the flow of any items or technology which might aid Iran in enriching uranium or developing nuclear weapon delivery systems.
The sanctions range from actual sales or supplies to dealings with named individuals.The sanctions range from actual sales or supplies to dealings with named individuals.
'We had no intention' 'Peaceful message'
Iran's proposed new plants would be of a similar size to its main existing enrichment plant at Natanz.Iran's proposed new plants would be of a similar size to its main existing enrichment plant at Natanz.
Iran is set on processing its own uraniumIran is set on processing its own uranium
Mr Salehi, who is also a vice-president, said: "We had no intention of building many facilities like the Natanz site but apparently the West doesn't want to understand Iran's peaceful message."Mr Salehi, who is also a vice-president, said: "We had no intention of building many facilities like the Natanz site but apparently the West doesn't want to understand Iran's peaceful message."
He accused foreign powers of pushing the UN's nuclear watchdog to rebuke Iran for covering up another uranium enrichment plant near the town of Qom.He accused foreign powers of pushing the UN's nuclear watchdog to rebuke Iran for covering up another uranium enrichment plant near the town of Qom.
"The action by 5+1 [the US, UK, France, China, Russia and Germany] at the IAEA prompted the [Iranian] government to approve a proposal to build 10 sites like that of Natanz," Mr Salehi said."The action by 5+1 [the US, UK, France, China, Russia and Germany] at the IAEA prompted the [Iranian] government to approve a proposal to build 10 sites like that of Natanz," Mr Salehi said.
President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad told his cabinet at the weekend that parliament had ordered that Iran should produce 20,000 megawatts of nuclear energy by 2020.President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad told his cabinet at the weekend that parliament had ordered that Iran should produce 20,000 megawatts of nuclear energy by 2020.
It therefore needed to make 250-300 tonnes of nuclear fuel a year, he said, which would require 500,000 centrifuges for enriching uranium.It therefore needed to make 250-300 tonnes of nuclear fuel a year, he said, which would require 500,000 centrifuges for enriching uranium.
Natanz has nearly 5,000 working centrifuges, with existing plans to build 54,000 in all.Natanz has nearly 5,000 working centrifuges, with existing plans to build 54,000 in all.
Mr Larijani told reporters in Tehran that it was in foreign powers' interests to find a diplomatic solution.Mr Larijani told reporters in Tehran that it was in foreign powers' interests to find a diplomatic solution.
"I still think there is a diplomatic opportunity and it is beneficial to them [world powers] to use this, so that Iran continues its work under the framework of the agency [the IAEA] and international supervision," he said."I still think there is a diplomatic opportunity and it is beneficial to them [world powers] to use this, so that Iran continues its work under the framework of the agency [the IAEA] and international supervision," he said.