Iran resists pressure on N-plans, draws US ire

The US today condemned Iran for persisting with what Washington regards as an atomic bomb-making programme. ‘‘Iran needs to come c...

The US today condemned Iran for persisting with what Washington regards as an atomic bomb-making programme. ‘‘Iran needs to come clean and fully cooperate with its international obligations,’’ White House spokesman Scott McClellan said travelling with US President George W. Bush to a NATO summit in Istanbul.

‘‘Iran’s continued failure to comply with the International Atomic Energy Agency and continued failure to stop all enrichment-related reprocessing activities only reinforce the concern we have expressed,’’ McClellan said.

Iran said on Sunday it would resist international pressure to reverse its decision to produce parts for centrifuges that enrich uranium. If enriched to a low level, uranium can be used as fuel for electricity-generating reactors such as the one Iran is building on its South coast. But if enriched further, to weapons-grade, it can be deployed in warheads.

The US official said Iran’s defiance would help persuade other countries to consider referring the issue to the UN, which could impose economic sanctions. ‘‘We have expressed concern within the IAEA about the need to consider sending this matter to the Security Council and I think this latest move may only serve to convince others of the need to seriously consider that step,’’ McClellan said.