As the World grows impatient Iran speeds up uranium extraction

Iran appears to be speeding up extraction of uranium ore at its Gchine mine site, a move that could intensify Western suspicions that the Middle Eastern state intends to build a nuclear bomb, Bloomberg reported yesterday (see GSN, Nov. 3), the Global Security Newswire reported. The report coincides with growing impatience on the P5+1 members about Iran's reticence with regard to proposals to ease concerns over its nuclear program and firmly stated that Israel and the international community would never agree to allow Iran to have nuclear weapons. French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner expressed today his worries about Tehran's failure to reply to the international proposal.

They are not answering us. So what are we supposed to do. To wait? Yes, we are waiting but not till the end of the world. I am worried because the situation remains tense. And at the same time the replies have not come (...) which is a bad sign for a new meeting in Geneva. Tehran's silence is incomprehensible.

Kouchner's statement dovetailed with German Chancellor Angela Merkel's who said that Iran must be prevented from obtaining a nuclear weapon.

Zero tolerance needs to be shown when there is a risk of weapons of mass destruction falling, for example, into the hands of Iran and threatening our security. Iran needs to be aware of this, Iran knows our offer but Iran also knows where we draw a line. A nuclear bomb in the hands of an Iranian president who denies the Holocaust, threatens Israel and denies Israel the right to exist is not acceptable.

The United States has said that a nuclear fuel plan offered to Iran will not be changed after Tehran called for the UN-brokered deal to be reviewed.
While the talks stall, suspicions are growing that Iran is merely buying time to advance its military nuclear program.