Iran nuclear plans: UN sanctions 'within weeks'
Updated on 09 February 2010
The US Defence Secretary Robert Gates calls for a United Nations security council resolution "within weeks" as Iran steps up its nuclear ambitions.
Iran has confirmed it is now making a making nuclear fuel to a higher grade than ever before but claims the resulting isotopes will be used to treat cancer patients.
Iran was recently offered a deal to swap most of its low-enriched uranium with major nuclear powers in return for the type of fuel it is now producing, but that deal fell apart.
The nuclear powers have held talks on their next move and how the possible form of fourth set of UN sanctions.
In a television interview, Mr Gates said: "I think it is going to take some period of time, I would say weeks not months, to see if we can't get another UN security council resolution."
Intelligence suggests Iran now has enough low-enriched uranium to produce one or two bombs but it is unlikely to develop the means to put the material into a missile until 2013.
Iran announced on Sunday it would enrich uranium to 20 per cent purity.
A nuclear weapon requires 90 per cent purity.
At present, Iran does not have any nuclear power plants able to use the low-enriched uranium it has already produced, and there is no existing technology to convert that material into the fuel rods needed to run the medical reactor.
US President Barack Obama said that despite Iran's denials it is clear to him the country is pursuing a path toward "nuclear weaponisation."
He said the international community is looking at a "variety of ways" to apply pressure to the Iranian government, which he said did not speak with one voice and was giving "mixed signals".
Mark Fitzpatrick, proliferation expert at the international institute for strategic studies, said: "I think Iran all along intended to enrich to 20 per cent, ostensibly to supply the research reactor but also to gain experience enriching to higher levels that would prove useful for weapons production."
Nikolai Patrushev, secretary of Russia's presidential security council, suggested negotiations with Iran may not be sufficient.
He said: "The actions Iran is taking raise doubts in other countries and those doubts are quite valid."
Of the major UN countries, only China (which can block any UN sanctions) has remained opposed to punishing Iran, urging increased diplomatic efforts instead to resolve the stand-off and calling for all sides to work towards agreement on the fuel exchange plan.
Any new sanctions could target Iran's central bank, the revolutionary guards, who western powers say are key to Iran's nuclear programme, shipping firms and the energy sector.
