Nuke Tests In Iran?

IAEA Finds Materials Likely Required For Future Nuclear Experiments

(CBS/AP) 
Mr. Bush's comments were echoed throughout Washington Wednesday.

"A nuclear armed Iran committed to the extinction of Israel … is a serious threat to global security," Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., said on CBS News' The Early Show. "It's probably the greatest single challenge outside of the war on terror that we faced since the end of the cold war."

"What we're doing now is bringing the entire pressure of the entire world on Iran," Sen. Joseph Biden, D.-Del., told the The Early Show. "And if it fails, then the whole world is in on the deal."

President Bush discussed Iran in a telephone call Wednesday with Russian President Vladimir Putin and thanked him for Russia's offer to divert enrichment activities to Russia in an effort to keep an eye on the process and make sure they are designed for civilian use.

"They both agreed that it was important to stay in close contact as we move forward to address this issue," White House spokesman Scott McClellan said. "I think both leaders have a shared concern about Iran developing a nuclear weapon under the guise of a civilian program."

The administration wants Russia to take a tough line on Iran at the United Nations, and officials have suggested Russia, for geographic reasons, has at least as much cause for concern as the United States.

But Russia is conflicted, wanting also to preserve its commercial and military ties to Iran.

The IAEA's 35-nation board of governors is to meet in Vienna, Austria, Thursday, and is expected to report Iran's nuclear program to the U.N. Security Council.

The five permanent members of the Security Council agreed Tuesday that Iran should be put before the world body.

The Security Council has the power to impose sanctions, but such a move is not likely soon. Under the deal the United States, Britain and France made with Moscow and Beijing — who tend to support Iran — the council will likely await a new IAEA report on Iran in March before deciding on substantive action.

Larijani said Iran was "committed to the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty" but would end IAEA snap inspections of its facilities if the Thursday vote went against it.

"The result would be Iran's cooperating with the IAEA at a low level, which is against our wishes. All our suspensions on nuclear activities would be lifted," he said.

"The law obliges the government" to end voluntary suspension of nuclear activities ... "naturally, uranium enrichment at industrial scale" would resume, he said.

Last year, Iran's parliament passed a law obliging the government to resume full-scale nuclear activities if the country was taken to the Security Council.

Iran insists its nuclear program is designed for electricity generation. But on Tuesday, the IAEA said that Iran had turned over to it documents and drawings it obtained on the black market that could serve no other purpose than production of an atomic warhead.