UNITED NATIONS, Aug. 21 (UPI) -- U.S. ambassador to the United Nations John Bolton has called Iran's obstruction of International Atomic Energy Agency inspectors unsurprising.
"They have done that before," Bolton told reporters at U.N. World Headquarters in New York Monday, when asked to comment on reports Iran barred weapons inspectors from the Natanz nuclear facility. "They falsify data. They destroy facilities. So, more obstruction doesn't surprise me."
Bolton's remark came only minutes after President George W. Bush told reporters in Washington, D.C., that Iran should be sanctioned if it violates a U.N. Security Council resolution requiring it to end uranium enrichment by Aug. 31.
Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said Monday Iran would "continue its path" toward developing nuclear power.
Iran's defiance came a day after U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan's appeal for it to accept the EU3 -- France, Germany and the United Kingdom -- plus three -- China, Russia, and the United States -- proposal.
The proposal reaffirms Iran's right to nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, but the uranium would be enriched outside, possibly in Russia.
"In a time of acute crisis in the Middle East, I believe that progress on the nuclear issue is essential for the stability not only of the region, but the international system itself," Annan said. "It is time to take steps in the right direction."
Iran had said it would reply to the Security Council Aug. 22.
"We are awaiting their definitive response, which is overdue," said Bolton.
Stephane Dujarric, spokesman to the U.N. secretary-general, told reporters Monday Iran's response would likely pass through the European Union.
"We assume it would first go, most likely, to (EU High Representative) Javier Solana, who has been the point person on the issue," said Dujarric.
