Iran's top nuclear negotiator says Iran will resume large-scale enrichment of uranium if the United Nations atomic watchdog agency refers the country to the U.N. Security Council.
Ali Larijani said Wednesday that Iran is ready to use its controversial enrichment plant and restrict international inspections of its nuclear sites. The International Atomic Energy Agency holds an emergency meeting in Vienna Thursday to consider reporting Tehran to the Security Council over its nuclear activities.
President Bush said there was a "very good chance" Iran would be referred to the Security Council for possible sanctions. Speaking to the Reuters news agency Wednesday, he also vowed to militarily defend Israel against Iran.
Earlier, Iran's president accused the United States of bullying Iran into giving up its nuclear program. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad appeared to be reacting to President Bush's criticism of Iran's powerful clerical rulers during his State of the Union address.