The United States cautioned on 29 October 2004 that Iran was rapidly approaching a deadline to suspend its uranium enrichment activities and cooperate fully with international inspectors, or face referral to the UN Security Council for possible sanctions.
State Department spokesman Richard Boucher pointed to the International Atomic Energy Agency's upcoming board of governors session, scheduled for 25 November, as a hard deadline for Iranian compliance. The IAEA had previously warned that a failure to comply could trigger a Security Council referral.
Boucher declined to say whether Washington might soften its stance depending on the outcome of ongoing negotiations between Iran and Britain, France, and Germany. The three European nations have been offering Tehran incentives in exchange for abandoning enrichment, and the parties were set to meet again in Paris the following week.
In Tehran, former president Hashemi Rafsanjani said Iran would engage in the talks but would refuse any pressure aimed at denying the country access to peaceful nuclear technology. Iran maintains its nuclear program is intended solely for civilian energy purposes and has rejected US allegations that it conceals a weapons development effort.
Historical summary. TurkishPress restated this AFP wire report, first published in October 2004, in its own words.