Related: IAEA chief "running out of patience" over Iran

     TEHRAN, Jan. 10 (Xinhuanet) -- Iran removed seals on its nuclear research sites on Tuesday and will resume the fuel research activities later in the day, despite international calls to refrain from resuming sensitive nuclear work, officials said.

   

Deputy head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organization Mohammad Saeedi speaks to the media in Tehran January 10, 2006. (Xinhua/Reuters)

    Mohammad Saeedi, deputy chief of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, told reporters here that the research work would be resumed later Tuesday under the supervision of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the UN nuclear watchdog.

    This move, one day delayed against its previous plan, came after Iran announced last week that it would resume work on the nuclear fuel research on Monday under the IAEA supervision, which it suspended two and a half years ago.

    A group of IAEA inspectors arrived here on Friday to supervise Tehran's resumption of nuclear research activities after the UN nuclear watchdog's dissuasion efforts failed. 
    

Iranian technicians remove a radioactive uranium container, sealed by the IAEA, to be used at the Isfahan Uranium Conversion Facilities, in August 2005. (Xinhua/AFP file)

    Iran's announcement drew threats from the United States, which accuses Iran of pursuing nuclear weapons under the cover of peaceful civilian usage, to refer its nuclear case to the UN Security Council for possible sanctions.

    German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier, whose country are among the European Union trio also grouping France and Britain to dissuade Iran from nuclear ambitions, also blasted Tehran on Monday of breaching the commitments and warned that it could "not remain without consequence."

    However, Iranian Supreme Leader Seyed Ali Khamenei said on Monday that Iran would not give in under the pressure of sanctions.    
   

A view of Natanz uranium enrichment facility 155 miles south of the Iranian capital of Tehran, March 30, 2005. (Xinhua/AFP file)

    "Certain states are after imposing economic sanctions on Iran through propaganda campaigns against its nuclear program. Economic sanctions on Iran could not work in the past. Instead, it encouraged the students and young scientists to work for self-sufficiency of the nation," Khamenei said at a gathering.

    Iran's defiant move would endanger a new round of nuclear talks with the EU set on Jan. 18, as what the union has warned.

    Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Mahdi Mostafavi said on Saturday that Iran's resumption of fuel research wouldn't affect the talks. Enditem