Iran nuclear issue: Iran fought back at IAEA board of governors meeting

Iran said today it would stop allowing reinforced nuclear inspections if the European Union pushed through a tough resolution at the UN atomic energy agency that included an ultimatum or trigger for sending Iran's case to the UN Security Council.

The warning came even though the EU backed off from its attempt at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to have Iran immediately hauled before the Security Council over suspicions it is seeking nuclear weapons, according to Forbes. "Iran will react and cease application of the additional protocol' to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) that gives the IAEA reinforced inspection powers, he said. Iran has signed but not ratified the additional protocol. He also repeated that Iran 'will not accept' demands that it return to a full suspension of fuel cycle work, and said there was 'vast opposition' to a referral among IAEA board members.

Instead of going for an immediate referral of the case to the Security Council, the EU is asking the IAEA's 35-nation board to pass a resolution that finds Iran in non-compliance with international safeguards mandated under the NPT.