Iran warned yesterday it would resume sensitive nuclear work within days if the European Union failed to submit proposals aimed at ending a long-running crisis over its nuclear programme.

Foreign ministry spokesman Hamid Reza Asefi said Iran would inform the UN nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency, later yesterday or today of the resumption of some uranium conversion work, a key stage in the nuclear fuel cycle.

"The time limit (on the suspension of such activities) has passed and public opinion cannot wait any longer," Asefi said.

The conversion process, carried out in Iran at a facility in the central city of Isfahan, changes uranium ore into the uranium gas that is the feedstock for enrichment.

Although Iran has currently frozen its enrichment work, chief nuclear negotiator Hassan Rowhani said Iran was capable of producing enriched uranium in a very short time if it came under attack.

"As soon as we decide to begin enrichment, we will be capable of reaching the desired goal in a very short time and in case our nuclear installations were attacked militarily, we could pursue enrichment unencumbered," Rowhani said in a report to outgoing President Mohammad Khatami published by the official news agency IRNA.

The so-called EU-3 of Britain, France and Germany is preparing a package of trade, technology and security incentives in return for Iran guaranteeing its nuclear programme is peaceful.

"If the Europeans submit their proposals by 5 pm (1230 GMT) we will examine them, if not we will resume some of our activities in Isfahan tomorrow," nuclear negotiator Ali Agha Mohammadi said.

But he added: "Our position is that we want to pursue the negotiations with the Europeans."

Asefi said there was a deadline of today for the EU offer, something denied by the Europeans who have previously said they intended to submit the proposals after new president Mahmood Ahmadinejad takes office on Wednesday.

New president to visit UN

Iran confirmed yesterday that President-elect Mahmood Ahmadinejad will attend the UN General Assembly in New York in September, dismissing any possible US visa restrictions in the wake of allegations of his role in the US embassy siege.

"Yes, Mr Ahmadinejad and the accompanying delegation will go to New York to take part in the UN world summit, he will also meet with the Iranians there," foreign ministry spokesman Hamid Reza Asefi told reporters.

(China Daily August 1, 2005)