Vague warning

last updated 8 January 2015

Tehran

Iran this week threatened unspecified “consequences” if Europe refers it to the U.N. Security Council for possible sanctions over Iran’s nuclear ambitions. E.U. negotiators said they would take the matter to the council if Iran does not halt its uranium reprocessing by next week. The U.S. has accused Iran of using its civilian nuclear program as a cover for a nuclear weapons program. But Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said that since Iran’s nuclear activities have been monitored by the International Atomic Energy Agency, there is “no legal or legitimate reason” for sanctions. Rather than halting its work, he said, Iran plans to seek bids for construction of two more nuclear power plants.