W.House: Iran Could Face Security Council

The New York Times:

If Iran continues on its current nuclear course, it will leave the international community no choice but to refer Tehran to the U.N. Security Council for possible actions, the White House said on Tuesday. The United States was reacting after Iran removed U.N. seals at its Natanz uranium enrichment plant and resumed nuclear fuel research on Tuesday. READ MORE

``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 spokesman Scott McClellan said.

He also said that if Iran started nuclear enrichment and reprocessing it would be considered a ``serious escalation.''

Tehran denies wanting nuclear technology for anything but a civilian energy program aimed at satisfying the Islamic Republic's booming demand for electricity.

But the United States and the European Union doubt that Iran's atomic ambitions are entirely peaceful. If the U.N. Security Council takes up the matter, it could impose economic sanctions.