Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad declared that Iran will “never back down” from its nuclear program, while Mansour Haqiqatpour, deputy head of the parliament’s Foreign Policy and National Security Committee, threatened that Iran may enrich parts of its uranium stockpile to 60 percent. Haqiqatpour’s threat echoed an argument that Iran has been publicly building since at least the summer, in which the regime has suggested that 60 percent enrichment is necessary to fuel nuclear submarines. The development deepens worries that Tehran is preparing to “sneak across the finish line” and produce a nuclear bomb before Western intelligence can detect the decision. In preparation for the October 17 meeting of European Union foreign ministers, countries including the Netherlands, Germany, France and Italy are proposing stricter sanctions against Iran.

[Photo: AlJazeeraEnglish / YouTube]