THE GUARDIAN:
· Threat paired with olive branch to atom watchdog
Iran warned yesterday that it would consider taking "illegal" steps, including possible abrogation of the non-proliferation treaty, if further UN sanctions are imposed because of its nuclear programme.
The warning was given by a senior Iranian official in an increasingly fraught war of nerves with the US and its allies over Iran's enrichment of uranium.
However, it was accompanied by an olive branch, a promise by Iran's chief negotiator to give a comprehensive account of its nuclear past to the UN nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency, or IAEA.
Tehran has made clear that it will not suspend enrichment as the UN security council has demanded, despite two earlier rounds of financial, travel and arms sanctions. A decision on a third round has been put off until September. "If there is another resolution, we will react with whatever we have," the senior official told western journalists. "So far we have answered legally, limiting [UN] inspections, and reducing cooperation with the IAEA within the legal framework.
"But if there is no legal option left, it is obvious we will be tempted to do illegal things. What is very important to us is our dignity, and we are prepared to act." Iran raises stakes in war of nerves over enriching uranium (more) By Julian Borger in Tehran
Mark Alexander
