Western nations condemn Iran's decision to re-start nuclear program
January 10, 2006
CBC News
Original Source: http://www.cbc.ca/story/world/national/2006/01/10/irannuclear060110.html

Western nations are warning Iran it is risking the imposition of international sanctions because of a decision by Tehran to remove United Nations seals and resume nuclear fuel research. 
The White House says it will consider it a serious escalation if the research includes the enriching and processing of uranium that could be used in the making of a nuclear weapon. 
There is serious concern throughout the international community about the regime's behaviour and given Iran's history of concealing and hiding their activities from the international community, and its continued non-compliance of its safeguard obligations, such concern is well founded, said White House spokesman Scott McClellan. 
The U.S. administration says if Iran continues along this road then there is only one option to pursue and that's referral to the Security Council, said McClellan. 
Those fears were echoed by the leadership of Germany, France, Israel and the United Kingdom. 
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Moscow is taking active measures together with the Iranian side in order to keep this moratorium effective during the period of negotiations. We are co-ordinating our actions with our European partners, Germany, Great Britain and France. 
In London, British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said European nations are losing their patience with Tehran and he will meet with his French and German counterparts on Wednesday to discuss referring the matter to the UN Security Council. 
This matter has to be resolved by peaceful means, but it will involve a good deal of diplomatic and other pressure on Iran ... we have had good backing from the United States' administration and very constructive engagement from Russia and China and from other partners. So it is a matter of huge regret that the Iranians have chosen to take this step today. 
Tehran says it will not enrich uranium and has long maintained that its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes, only. Iran says other nations have no right to interfere.