Monday, August 1 2005 20:14 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Tehran: Iran was set to resume sensitive nuclear work today (August 1, 2005), ending a nine-month suspension agreed with the European Union and risking a major international crisis and possible UN sanctions.

Iran handed over a letter to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)that Iranian officials said formally notified the UN watchdog of the imminent resumption of uranium ore conversion, the precursor to enrichment.

Diplomats at IAEA headquarters in Vienna confirmed the handover but declined to reveal the letter's contents, beyond saying that it touched on Iran's plans for its conversion plant in the central city of Isfahan.

The EU-3 of Britain, France and Germany has warned that any resumption of conversion or enrichment will prompt them to back US-led calls for Iran's nuclear programme to be referred to the UN Security Council for possible sanctions.

The IAEA has been investigating Iran's nuclear programme since February 2003 on US charges that the Islamic republic is secretly developing nuclear weapons.

Iranian negotiator Ali Agha Mohammadi said, he expected conversion to resume at Isfahan under IAEA inspection later today.

An IAEA team currently in Iran would witness the removal of the seals placed on the plant by the UN nuclear watchdog after the letter is handed over.

"In this letter, we say to the IAEA that we are resuming our activities at Isfahan starting from today under its supervision," he added.

The IAEA seals "will be removed today in the presence of the agency inspectors currently in Iran."