The hard line Iranian Guardian Council has passed into law a measure which calls for the government to develop a nuclear fuel cycle. The Iranian parliament approved the bill on 15 May, but the Council must approve all bills before they become law.
Ultimately, a full nuclear fuel cycle would necessitate a controversial resumption of uranium enrichment, a process which has been suspended since last November while negotiations continue with the European Union and the USA.
European negotiators are also pushing a hard line, threatening to refer the issue to the UN Security Council if the country goes ahead with its nuclear programme.
