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Iran nuclear deadline to expire Iran nuclear deadline to expire
(30 minutes later)
A UN deadline for Tehran to suspend its uranium enrichment and re-processing activities expires on Thursday, with no sign of Iran meeting the demands. A UN deadline for Tehran to suspend its uranium enrichment and re-processing activities is set to expire, with no sign of Iran meeting the demands.
The International Atomic Energy Agency will report to the UN Security Council on whether Iran has complied. The International Atomic Energy Agency is expected to report to the Security Council that Iran has failed to comply.
And next week Council members will discuss a resolution which could impose sanctions on Iran, the US says. Council members will meet next week to discuss a resolution which could impose sanctions on Iran, the US has said.
US ambassador to the UN, John Bolton, says Iran is well aware that ignoring the order could trigger sanctions. US ambassador to the UN John Bolton said Iran was well aware that ignoring the order could trigger sanctions.
Mr Bolton said the five permanent members of the Security Council had repeatedly warned that failure to meet the 31 August deadline would result in them seeking sanctions.Mr Bolton said the five permanent members of the Security Council had repeatedly warned that failure to meet the 31 August deadline would result in them seeking sanctions.
Key nuclear sites Key nuclear sites "That has been our intention for some months, it remains our intention, it'll be our intention on 1 September if the Iranians don't comply with the resolution," he said.
"That has been our intention for some months, it remains out intention, it'll be our intention on 1 September if the Iranians don't comply with the resolution," he said.
US state department spokesman Sean McCormack said US Under-Secretary of State Nicholas Burns and senior officials from the UK, France, Russia, China and Germany would meet in Europe early next week to discuss the issue.US state department spokesman Sean McCormack said US Under-Secretary of State Nicholas Burns and senior officials from the UK, France, Russia, China and Germany would meet in Europe early next week to discuss the issue.
Mr McCormack said the US was ready to move immediately but he acknowledged that there would now be a period of tough diplomacy to get agreement among all members of the Security Council. What form any sanctions against Iran would take has yet to be determined.
Russia and China, which can both veto action at the Security Council, have urged patience and said they would not support severe punishments.
US claimsUS claims
A senior White House official has told the BBC the US continues to detect low level uranium enrichment by Iran.A senior White House official has told the BBC the US continues to detect low level uranium enrichment by Iran.
Such activity would be in defiance of demands from both the UN and International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).Such activity would be in defiance of demands from both the UN and International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
ARAK PROJECT Located at Khondab, some 190km (120 miles) south-west of TehranNew plant now produces up to 16t of heavy water per year - Iran wants to produce up to 80t a yearWestern diplomats say producing heavy water itself does not violate non-proliferation treatiesWater to be used to cool a new research reactor currently under constructionReactor will produce plutonium by-product that could be used to make atomic warheadsReactor expected to be completed by 2009 Source: News agencies and Iranian governmentARAK PROJECT Located at Khondab, some 190km (120 miles) south-west of TehranNew plant now produces up to 16t of heavy water per year - Iran wants to produce up to 80t a yearWestern diplomats say producing heavy water itself does not violate non-proliferation treatiesWater to be used to cool a new research reactor currently under constructionReactor will produce plutonium by-product that could be used to make atomic warheadsReactor expected to be completed by 2009 Source: News agencies and Iranian government
The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the Iranians were trying "to familiarise themselves with the process of enriching uranium" and the technology associated with the product.The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the Iranians were trying "to familiarise themselves with the process of enriching uranium" and the technology associated with the product.
However, they said the end product remained at such a low could not used for any possible nuclear weapon purposes.However, they said the end product remained at such a low could not used for any possible nuclear weapon purposes.
The US says Iran is pursuing nuclear weapons, a charge Iran denies, insisting it is simply trying to develop nuclear power.The US says Iran is pursuing nuclear weapons, a charge Iran denies, insisting it is simply trying to develop nuclear power.
On Saturday Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad inaugurated a new phase of a heavy water reactor project in Arak.On Saturday Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad inaugurated a new phase of a heavy water reactor project in Arak.
Heavy water reactors produce plutonium which can be an alternative route to a nuclear device, the other being highly enriched uranium.Heavy water reactors produce plutonium which can be an alternative route to a nuclear device, the other being highly enriched uranium.
Observers say the move was aimed at sending out a signal of defiance days ahead of the Security Council's deadline. Observers say the move was aimed at sending out a signal of defiance ahead of the Security Council's deadline.
After inaugurating the heavy water plant, Mr Ahmadinejad again said Iran would never abandon its nuclear programme, but that nuclear weapons were not its goal.After inaugurating the heavy water plant, Mr Ahmadinejad again said Iran would never abandon its nuclear programme, but that nuclear weapons were not its goal.
"Basically, there is no talk of nuclear weapons," he said."Basically, there is no talk of nuclear weapons," he said.
"There is no discussion of nuclear weapons. We are not a threat to anybody, even the Zionist regime which is a definite enemy of the people of the region.""There is no discussion of nuclear weapons. We are not a threat to anybody, even the Zionist regime which is a definite enemy of the people of the region."