Russia has signalled it is losing patience with Iran over its nuclear programme as America said it expected a sanctions resolution to be put before the United Nations “within weeks”.

By Richard Spencer and Adrian Blomfield

9 Feb 2010

Source:

Tehran confirmed it had begun to refine its stocks of low-enriched uranium to a higher-grade at its nuclear plant in the city of Natanz.

The announcement triggered alarm across the West. Robert Gates, the US defence secretary, said: “I think it’s going to take some period of time – I would say weeks, not months – to see if we can’t get another UN security council resolution.”

Russia, which has opposed further sanctions in the past, said the move heightened doubts about Iran’s “sincerity”.

Nikolai Patrushev, secretary of the Russian national security council, added: “Iran claims it is not trying to acquire nuclear weapons. But actions such as starting to enrich low-enriched uranium up to 20 per cent raise doubts in other countries and these doubts are fairly well-grounded.”

Iran has said it needs the fuel for its medical research reactor, but enrichment to 20 per cent is also the most difficult step in creating the 90 per cent enrichment grade needed for a nuclear weapon.

The Chinese, whose ties with Iran have improved during the long drawn-out nuclear crisis, have proved most difficult to convince.

A foreign ministry spokesman indicated no change in policy, saying: “I hope the relevant parties will step up efforts and push for progress in the dialogue and negotiations.”

However, China has been reluctant in the past to use a veto unilaterally, so a move by Russia to support sanctions could be crucial.

Many analysts still believe that Vladimir Putin, the prime minister, will in the end prove unwilling to abandon his confrontational stance towards the United States, which is crucial for his domestic legitimacy, despite helpful noises on sanctions.

Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, is due to visit Moscow this weekend, when he will press the case for action.

“Iran is racing forward to produce nuclear weapons,” he said yesterday. “I believe that what is required right now is tough action by the international community.

“This means not moderate sanctions, or watered-down sanctions. This means crippling sanctions and these sanctions must be applied right now.”