U.N. to impose sanctions against Iran

Iran may pay quite a serious price for resuming its nuclear activities. According to British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw, the UN Security Council may impose sanctions against Iran for its recent decision to continue the development of the nuclear program. A military action against the country is not being considered, straw added.

In an interview with British Broadcasting Corp. radio, Straw said, "Obviously, if Iran failed to comply, the Security Council would then consider sanctions."

Asked about the possibility of an attack on Iran, he said, "No one is talking about invading Iran or taking military action against Iran."

On Thursday, Straw had said it was "highly probable" that Iran will be referred to the U.N. Security Council because of its nuclear program.

Later that day, Straw traveled to Berlin discuss the issue with the foreign ministers of Germany and France and they announced that nuclear talks with Iran had reached a dead end after more than two years of acrimonious negotiations and the issue should be referred to the U.N. Security Council.

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice also said a "strong message" had to be sent to Tehran but said she was not ready to talk about what action should be taken to curtail Iran's nuclear ambitions.

On Tuesday, Iran removed some U.N. seals in the presence of inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency from its main uranium enrichment facility in Natanz, central Iran, and resumed research on nuclear fuel.

Iran said it was resuming "merely research" and that "production of nuclear fuel," which would involve enrichment, "remains suspended." But the IAEA said Tehran also planned small-scale enrichment of uranium - a process that can produce fuel for nuclear reactors to generate electricity or material for nuclear weapons, AP reports.