Diplomats Say Iran Close to Restarting Uranium Processing

Diplomats say Iran is readying a new phase ofits Parchin military complex to collect
uranium processing, despite a call by the U.N.environmental samples, in an apparent effort to
atomic agency to suspend all sensitive nuclearavoid possible sanctions.
work.The United States says the Parchin site has been
Officials at the International Atomic Energyused for nuclear weapons testing. But Tehran
Agency said Iran will begin feeding a new batch ofinsists its nuclear program is peaceful.
uranium into its plant at Isfahan next week.Meanwhile, Iran's state media quoted the country's
Earlier this year, the 35-nation IAEA board warnedforeign minister saying more than 40 of the
it would refer Iran to the U.N. Security Council ifcountry's ambassadors were being replaced. He
the country failed to suspend uranium enrichmentsaid some envoys had reached retirement age,
and allow nuclear inspections.adding their terms will expire by the end of the
This week, Iran allowed U.N. inspectors access toyear.