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Iran Focus
 London, Jan. 20 –
United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan urged Iran on Thursday to
suspend nuclear activities carried out at its uranium enrichment facility
in Natanz and hinted at Security Council action
on the Islamic Republic’s nuclear file if Tehran did not heed
the call.
Speaking to reporters in New York, Annan said that Tehran had to foster
an environment conducive to talks on its nuclear ambitions.
“My own advice to the Iranians is to create an environment that will allow
the negotiations to go forward”, he said.
Last week, Iran broke the
International Atomic Energy Agency’s seals on equipment used to produce
enriched uranium, ending its suspension of those activities. Iran contends that
it is only conducting research and development for peaceful purposes, but
the UN nuclear watchdog has said that it had been unable to verify this
claim.
The UN chief called on Tehran not to resume
nuclear research at Natanz. “We need time to
build confidence and trust so that these negotiations will take place in an
atmosphere which is appropriate”, he stressed.
He said, however, that as a last resort the matter would be referred to the
UN Security Council. “If all else fails and the process is exhausted and
the issue were to come here, then the Council will have to deal with it”.
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