Iran Threatens to Block UN Inspections

WaPo: “Iran threatened on Friday to block U.N. inspections of its nuclear facilities and end all voluntary cooperation with the nuclear watchdog if it is referred to the U.N. Security Council as the long confrontation over Iran’s nuclear program moved closer to crisis level.”

More from the NYT: “For two years, the United States has repeatedly declared that after many instances of Iran failing to disclose its nuclear activities to international inspectors, its conduct should be subject to condemnation or sanctions at the Security Council. But until this week, the United States’ major European allies have declined to endorse that step. Only after allowing the Europeans to negotiate with Iran and to offer possible incentives for suspending its activities, and encouraging Russia to make a separate offer to operate a joint uranium enrichment program on Russian soil, has the United States brought these partners around to more overt pressure.”

UPDATE – From Alertnet: “U.S. President George W. Bush said on Friday he would not prejudge what the U.N. Security Council would do with Iran, asked about whether he expected sanctions to be imposed if Iran is brought before the Council over its nuclear program.”