Iran’s nuclear moves

Tehran

Iran this week reopened its nuclear research facilities, raising alarms throughout the world. Iran had voluntarily closed the plants in 2004 while negotiating with Europe over the fate of its nuclear program. But now, the country’s Islamic leaders say the talks were going nowhere and that they can no longer delay the nation’s “peaceful” research. The U.N. atomic agency said Iran is gearing up for small-scale enrichment of uranium, a step that can create bomb fuel as well as power-plant fuel. The U.S. and the European Union said that enriching uranium would bring a referral to the U.N. Security Council for economic sanctions. Even Russia, which has helped Iran with nuclear power in the past, said the Iranian move provoked “concern.”

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up