Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has warned that Iran faces "very tough sanctions" if it rejects offers of engagement over its nuclear program. The U.S. was "laying the groundwork" for such measures if Iran rebuffed the offers or the process failed, she told the House Foreign Affairs Committee.
At the same time, the U.S. was more than willing to reach out to Iran, she said. Iran says its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes, but has been accused by critics of seeking nuclear weapons.
On Wednesday, Tehran said it was ready for "constructive dialogue" with world powers over its nuclear program, Iranian news agencies reported. Last week, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said he would present a new package for discussion, but has yet to give details.
On April 9th, Iran's president opened the country's first nuclear fuel production plant, making what correspondents say was a defiant speech. President Ahmadinejad said Iran was open to an offer of fresh talks with world powers, but only if they were based on "justice" and "respect".
In a speech from Isfahan, Ahmadinejad said Iran had tested two new types of centrifuge with higher capacities at a uranium enrichment plant in Natanz. Meanwhile, nuclear chief Gholam Reza Aghazadeh said Iran has increased the number of centrifuges it is running at the plant to 7,000. In February, Iran said it had 6,000 centrifuges running.
The newly-opened plant in Isfahan will produce pellets of uranium oxide to fuel a heavy-water reactor planned for completion by 2010, the Associated Press reports. This signals Iran has reached the final stage in the nuclear fuel cycle, analysts say.
On April 8th, the six powers co-ordinating policy with Iran over its nuclear ambitions moved to invite the Iranians for fresh talks on a diplomatic solution. The U.S., Russia, China, France, Germany and Britain announced they would ask EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana to approach Iran with the offer. In a joint statement, they appealed to Iran to "engage seriously... in a spirit of mutual respect".
Last month President Barack Obama has offered "a new beginning" of engagement with Tehran in an unprecedented direct video message to the Iranian people. "My administration is now committed to diplomacy that addresses the full range of issues before us," Mr Obama said. Mr Obama's message was released to coincide with the festival of Nowruz, when Iranians mark the arrival of spring. In it, President Obama said he wanted "to speak directly to the people and leaders of the Islamic Republic of Iran". He said his administration was committed "to pursuing constructive ties among the United States, Iran and the international community".
An advisor to Iran's president welcomed Mr Obama's message but said Washington had to fundamentally change policy. Relations between Iran and the U.S. have been strained over Tehran's controversial nuclear activities. Washington fears Iran's uranium enrichment program is a cover to build atomic weapons, a charge Iranian officials deny.
In February Iranian and Russian nuclear officials began a test run of Iran's first nuclear power plant. The test involves dummy rods that imitate the enriched uranium needed to run the Russian-built plant at Bushehr. The test further increased fears in the West about Iran's nuclear ambitions. An Iranian official told journalists at Bushehr that Iran had increased the number of its centrifuges enriching uranium at another site to 6,000.
The reactor was first started by a German company under the Shah in 1975, but revolution and war stalled work there until the Russians took it on in 1995. Operations of the 1,000-megawatt light-water reactor have been long delayed, though it is expected to start generating power later this year.
Iran is currently defying Security Council resolutions ordering it to suspend the enrichment of uranium. It says it is simply doing what it is allowed to do under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). The country has pledged not to break its obligations under the NPT and will not use the technology to make nuclear weapons.
However, the Iranian authorities hid their uranium enrichment program for 18 years, and the Security Council says they should stop enrichment and certain other nuclear activities until their peaceful intentions can be fully established.
Recent coverage on The World:
The BBC's Jon Leyne was granted rare access to the Bushehr nuclear plant. He speaks with anchor Lisa Mullins (Feb 25).
Iran's Isfahan facility
On July 8th, 2008 the U.S. imposed new financial sanctions on Iranian individuals and companies suspected of involvement in the country's nuclear program. A senior defense ministry scientist and several companies thought to be linked to Iran's arms industry were among those placed on the restricted list. The move will ban American companies from trading with those on the list, who will also have their U.S. assets frozen.
It came as G8 leaders called for Iran to halt uranium enrichment work. Western leaders have been attempting to convince Tehran to stop enriching uranium, which it has continued despite the imposition of sanctions by the UN and the European Union. Iran denies Western assertions that it is developing nuclear weapons and insists its nuclear program is intended for peaceful purposes.
On March 3rd, 2008 the UN Security Council voted in favor of new sanctions against Iran over its nuclear program. Fourteen of the council's fifteen members voted in favor of measures including asset freezes and travel bans for Iranian officials. Indonesia abstained.
This third sanctions resolution adds to resolutions adopted in 2006 and 2007. It calls for the foreign assets of 13 Iranian companies to be frozen, and imposes travel bans on five Iranian officials. It imposes a ban on the sale to Iran of so-called dual-use items - which can have either a military or civilian purpose.
The five permanent, veto-wielding members of the council - the United States, France, Britain, China, and Russia - all supported the resolution. The non-permanent members - none of whom possesses the power of veto - all backed it, except Indonesia, which abstained, saying it remained to be convinced of the necessity of the sanctions.
In a statement before the vote, Iran's envoy to the UN, Ali Asghar Soltanieh, described the resolution as politically motivated, illegal, and illegitimate. He insisted Iran's nuclear program "has been, is, and will remain, absolutely peaceful".
President Bush said in December 2007 that Iran should reveal the full extent of its nuclear program, or risk further international isolation. The National Intelligence Estimate released on Dec. 3rd said that Iran had halted its nuclear weapons program in 2003. But Mr Bush said Iran still had "more to explain" about its past actions, and that it must cease uranium enrichment.
He said Iran had yet to acknowledge that it had a covert nuclear weapons program which ran until 2003 - as stated by December's National Intelligence Estimate (NIE). The report said Iran was keeping its options open, continuing to enrich uranium, which could be used for nuclear weapons in the future.
President Ahmadinejad
President Ahmadinejad described the NIE on Tehran's nuclear program as a "great victory". He said in a televised speech that the report had been a "fatal blow" to those who had filled the world for several years with threats, stress and anxiety.
President Bush said the NIE was a "warning signal" and his view that a nuclear Iran would be a danger "hasn't changed". Mr Bush said, Iran remained a threat to the world despite the new intelligence saying the country may not be building nuclear weapons.
Reactor at Iran's Bushehr facility
In October 2007 the United States stepped up its sanctions on Iran for "supporting terrorists" and pursuing nuclear activities. The new measures target the finances of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps and three state-owned banks. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said the moves were part of "a comprehensive policy to confront the threatening behavior of the Iranians".
President Ahmadinejad declared in September 2007 that Iran has met a key target for its nuclear program and now has 3,000 centrifuges enriching uranium and that his country would continue its drive in spite of UN sanctions. Enriched uranium can be used for power stations but also for nuclear bombs. Iran has repeatedly stated that its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes only.
Enriched uranium can be used to fuel nuclear reactors but can also be made into nuclear weapons material. The West has accused Iran of seeking nuclear weapons, a charge Iran denies. The United States and Israel have not ruled out the possibility of using military force against Iran if it does not scrap its uranium-enrichment program. But the US favors diplomatic methods, with what Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has called "disincentives for Iran to continue its activities".
Iran's nuclear program
Iran is trying to develop the technology of enriching uranium. This process involves converting uranium ore into a gas. The gas is then spun through centrifuges to separate the richer parts that can be used as fuel in a nuclear power station.
Western countries are concerned because this technology can also be used to get an even higher level of enrichment, and this highly enriched uranium can be used in the development of a nuclear bomb.
Iran hid important parts of its nuclear program for many years. In December 2002 satellite photography confirmed the existence of sites at Natanz (uranium enrichment plant) and Arak (heavy water plant). The United States accuses Tehran of "across-the-board pursuit of weapons of mass destruction." Iran denies that, but it agreed to inspections by the IAEA.
The UN Security Council has demanded that Iran suspend its enrichment activities while talks take place about its long-term plans.
Is Iran trying to build a nuclear weapon?
Iran says it is not. It says it is simply exercising its right under an international treaty on nuclear weapons known as the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. The NPT bans Iran from developing a nuclear bomb but does allow the country to develop civilian nuclear power. That includes developing nuclear fuel needed to power nuclear stations.
However, traces of highly enriched weapons-grade uranium were found at the Natanz enrichment facility in 2003 and the International Atomic Energy Agency said that Tehran has not "provided the necessary transparency to remove uncertainties associated with some of its activities." The IAEA said Iran granted access to nuclear facilities but did not provide all the requested information. Inspectors were unable to "confirm the peaceful nature of Iran's nuclear program."
Timeline of Nuclear Crisis since 2006
Jan 10, 2006: Iran removes UN seals at Natanz plant and resumes nuclear fuel research.
Feb 4, 2006: IAEA votes to report Iran to UN Security Council. Iran ends snap UN nuclear inspections the next day. Ten days later Iran restarts small-scale feeding of uranium gas into centrifuges at Natanz after a 2-1/2-year suspension.
Apr 28, 2006: IAEA report submitted to Security Council confirms Iran has disregarded UN demands to suspend enrichment.
Jul 31, 2006: Security Council demands Iran suspend its nuclear activities by Aug 31st. In a resolution, council makes legally binding demands on Iran and threatens sanctions.
Aug 26, 2006: Iran launches new phase in Arak heavy-water reactor project.
Aug 31, 2006: IAEA announces Iran has not met deadline to suspend its atomic fuel program and has resumed enriching small amounts of uranium.
Oct 6, 2006: Six world powers say they have agreed to discuss sanctions to punish Tehran for failing to halt uranium enrichment but are still open to negotiations.
Nov 14, 2006: A confidential IAEA report says that Iran is pushing ahead with uranium enrichment and still stonewalling agency investigations despite the risk of UN sanctions.
Dec 23, 2006: UN security council adopts sanctions against Iran, passed unanimously, which ban the supply of nuclear materials
Mar 24, 2007: UN security council widens sanctions against Iran, with new resolution.
Apr 9, 2007: Iran says it has "joined the nuclear club of nations and can produce nuclear fuel on an industrial scale."
May 23, 2007: IAEA report says Iran is continuing to defy UN demands to stop enriching uranium.
Dec 3, 2007: National Intelligence Estimate suggests that Iran abandoned its nuclear weapons program in 2003
Jan 22, 2008: Permanent members of the UN Security Council and Germany agree new draft resolution of fresh sanctions against Iran
Mar 3, 2008: UN Security Council adopts a third round of sanctions against Iran
Iran's key nuclear sites
Bushehr - nuclear power station
Iran's nuclear program began in 1974 with plans to build a nuclear power station at Bushehr with German assistance. The project was abandoned because of the Islamic revolution five years later. It was revived in 1992 when Tehran signed an agreement with Russia to resume work at the site. There are two pressurized water reactors at the site - one reportedly near completion.
Isfahan - uranium conversion plant
Iran is building a plant here to convert uranium ore into three forms:
• Hexafluoride gas - used in gas centrifuges
• Uranium oxide - used to fuel reactors, but not the type Iran is constructing
• Metal - often used in the core of nuclear bombs. The IAEA is concerned about the metal's use, as Iran's reactors do not require it as fuel.
Natanz - uranium enrichment plant
Iran suspended work on an uranium enrichment plant at Natanz in 2003 - but has recently reopened the facility. In 2003, a leaked IAEA report said that weapons-grade uranium had been found in samples taken from the site, although Iran blamed contaminated imported equipment, and an independent report later confirmed this.
According to some estimates, when complete, Natanz could house some 50,000 advanced gas centrifuges, which would produce enough weapons-grade uranium to produce more than 20 weapons per year. Other estimates suggest the plant will have a total of 5,000 centrifuges when initial stages of the project are completed. With that number, Iran would be able to produce sufficient enriched uranium to make a small number of nuclear weapons each year.
Arak - heavy water plant
The apparent existence of a heavy water facility near the town of Arak first emerged with the publication of satellite images by the US-based Institute for Science and International Security in December 2002. Heavy water is used to moderate the nuclear fission chain reaction either in a certain type of reactor - albeit not the type that Iran is currently building - or to produce plutonium for use in a nuclear bomb.
