Iran atomic escalation seen hurtling toward crisis

Iran’s expanding nuclear program and restrictions on international monitoring are hurtling toward another dangerous crisis while raising doubts over the Islamic Republic’s claim its atomic work is peaceful, western diplomats said.

The International Atomic Energy Agency’s board of governors formally censured Iran for a second time this year on Thursday in Vienna. Iran continues stonewalling an IAEA probe into uranium traces sampled at three undeclared sites while its stockpile of fuel rises to record highs.

The U.S. and its European allies sponsored the resolution of censure at this week’s board, demanding that Iran urgently cooperate with the IAEA.