Iran Votes to Block Nuclear Inspections

[cal04]

Iran - Parliament approved a bill Sunday requiring the government to block international inspections of its atomic facilities if the U.N. nuclear monitoring agency refers Iran to the Security Council for possible sanctions.
The bill was approved by 183 of the 197 lawmakers present at the session, which was broadcast live on state-run radio. The vote came four days before the International Atomic Energy Agencyboard meets to consider referring Tehran for violating a nuclear arms control treaty.

When the bill becomes law, as is expected, it will strengthen the government's hand in resisting international pressure to abandon uranium enrichment, a process that can be used to produce fuel for nuclear reactors or an atomic bomb.
The United States accuses Iran of trying to build a nuclear weapon. Iran says its program is for generating electricity. The bill will go to the Guardian Council, a hard-line constitutional watchdog, for expected ratification.

"If Iran's nuclear file is referred or reported to the U.N. Security Council, the government will be required to cancel all voluntary measures it has taken and implement all scientific, research and executive programs to enable the rights of the nation under the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty," lawmaker Kazem Jalali quoted the bill as saying. Canceling voluntary measures means Iran will stop allowing IAEA inspections of its nuclear facilities and would resume uranium enrichment.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051120/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iran_nuclear

[cosmicone]

1. Iran Votes to Block Nuclear Inspections

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051120/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iran_nuclear

TEHRAN, Iran - Parliament approved a bill Sunday requiring the government to block international inspections of its atomic facilities if the U.N. nuclear monitoring agency refers Iran to the Security Council for possible sanctions.

The bill was approved by 183 of the 197 lawmakers present at the session, which was broadcast live on state-run radio. The vote came four days before the International Atomic Energy Agency board meets to consider referring Tehran for violating a nuclear arms control treaty.

When the bill becomes law, as is expected, it will strengthen the government's hand in resisting international pressure to abandon uranium enrichment, a process that can be used to produce fuel for nuclear reactors or an atomic bomb.

The United States accuses Iran of trying to build a nuclear weapon. Iran says its program is for generating electricity.

[cosmicone]

2. Spreading democracy republican style .....

</sarcasm>

[Maggie_May]

3. Do you blame them

Saddam didn't have nuclear weapons and we still invaded. We are at there door step and they are taking no chances. I really think if Bush's support for the Iraqi war was good he would try to invade Iran. I can't say I don't blame them its kind of the the old saying you are damned if you do you are damned if you don't. They feel like its better to take their chances.

[FightingIrish]

4. That's an excellent point.

We not only invaded knowing there were no weapons but did so in the midst of weapons inspections that were proving just that. Iran probably sees inspections as another sucker punch just like the one we laid on Saddam.

[cal04]

5. IF the IAEA refers Iran to the UN for sanctions.

"If Iran's nuclear file is referred or reported to the U.N. Security Council, the government will be required to cancel all voluntary measures it has taken and implement all scientific, research and executive programs to enable the rights of the nation under the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty," lawmaker Kazem Jalali quoted the bill as saying.

Canceling voluntary measures means Iran will stop allowing IAEA inspections of its nuclear facilities and would resume uranium enrichment.