Iran risks UN sanctions in nuclear row

Iran threatened to provoke an international crisis today by deciding to resume its suspended nuclear programme.

Ignoring warnings from the US and the EU, the Iranian government risked the imposition of UN sanctions in a move that will almost certainly end two years of talks between Tehran and Europe.

Mohammad Saeedi, deputy head of Iran's atomic energy body, said: "The decision to resume some activities has been taken. Now we are discussing the timing - but this decision is imminent as well."

Iran had agreed to freeze its nuclear activity in November after talks in Paris with Britain, France and Germany. Mr Saeedi claimed the Europeans were wasting time in the talks and said Iran will break International Atomic Energy Authority seals on the uranium conversion facility at Isfahan.

But Iran said it will not yet resume uranium enrichment, the precursor for making a bomb.

Meanwhile, North Korea today announced it had taken steps to expand its nuclear arsenal and resumed the construction of two power plants.