"Alireza Jafarzadeh’s claim could not be verified"

Britain threatens UNSC action on Iran -: "Britain threatens UNSC action on Iran
1/11/2006 3:00:00 PM GMT

"Iran has already manufactured as many as 5 000 centrifuge machines," Jafarzadeh claimed

The British Prime Minister Tony Blair calls on the UN Security Council to take action against the Islamic Republic following its announcement of resuming nuclear fuel research.

On the other hand, former Iranian President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani said any sanctions would be futile.

"Adopting harsh measures like imposing sanctions cannot bring about the desired outcome," Rafsanjani said during a sermon at Tehran’s University marking the Muslim Eid ul Adha festival.

Blair vowed Wednesday to refer Iran’s nuclear dossier to the Security Council for possible sanctions.

"I think the first thing to do is to secure agreement for a reference to the Security Council, (if) that is indeed what the allies jointly decide as I think seems likely," Blair told parliament.

"Then ... We have to decide what measures to take and we obviously don't rule out any measures at all," he added.

Opposition figure claims Iran has 5,000 centrifuges

Citing what he said was intelligence from the Iranian opposition and sources within the Iranian nuclear programme, an exiled opposition figure alleged on Tuesday that Iran has secretly built thousands of centrifuge machines for its atomic plant at Natanz, Agence France Presse reported.

However, Alireza Jafarzadeh’s claim, which came hours after Iran resumed sensitive nuclear research after a two-year suspension could not be verified- If confirmed, according to analysts, it would enflame the current standoff over Iran's nuclear programme.

With its latest move, Iran is risking censure by the UN Security Council.

"Iran has already manufactured as many as 5 000 centrifuge machines ready to be installed in Natanz, which is a clear breach of its agreements with the IAEA and the EU," Jafarzadeh said at a news conference, adding that the Islamic Republic had been continually building underground centrifuge cascade installation platforms at Natanz.

Information released in 2002 by Jafarzadeh, former spokesperson for the Iranian opposition in Washington, was the first outside glimpse into Iran’s nuclear activities which triggered International Atomic Energy Agency scrutiny.

"The 5 000 centrifuge machines are going to be installed in underground cascade halls ... all of this has been going on while supposedly the program has been under freeze," he claimed.

Yesterday Iran announced removing UN seals on its nuclear-enrichment facility, triggering worldwide criticism specially the U.S., the Europe Union and Japan, who see the move as defiance of demands that Iran suspends its nuclear program and could provide justification for it to be referred to the UN Security Council for possible sanctions.

"If the regime in Iran continues on the current course and fails to abide by its international obligations, there is no other choice but to refer the matter to the Security Council," White House press secretary Scott McClellan said.

Also Russia and China which have blocked an IAEA resolution to refer Iran to the UNSC, expressed frustration with Tehran because of its latest move.

Meanwhile, chief of the UN nuclear watchdog, Mohamed ElBaradei voiced exasperation, saying: "I am running out of patience."

This increases the risk of a UNSC referral more than anytime during the more than three-year IAEA probe into Iran's nuclear activities."