Last week's meeting of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Vienna was one more sign that the US is intent on intensifying the confrontation with Iran over its nuclear programme and laying the ground for another military adventure.

As far as Washington was concerned, the meeting had only one purpose: to issue an ultimatum to Iran to shut down its nuclear activities or face automatic referral to the UN Security Council for punitive measures. Despite failing to provide conclusive evidence, the US claims that Tehran has had secret nuclear weapons programmes for nearly two decades.

Iran has consistently denied any plans to build nuclear weapons, insisting that its uranium enrichment programme is designed to provide fuel for a power reactor being constructed at the southern port city of Bushehr.

Tehran is adamant that under the Nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty it has the right to develop all aspects of the nuclear fuel cycle for civilian purposes, including enrichment.

The European Union, spearheaded by Britain, France and Germany, presented a somewhat "softer" approach, including possible inducements if Iran freezes its uranium enrichment programme. At the same time, however, the EU was unwilling to cross Washington on the key issue: Iran had to demonstrate it had no weapons programme or face the consequences.

The US insists that Iran prove the unproveable: that it has no nuclear weapons programmes anywhere in its extensive territory. Every Iranian attempt to satisfy US demands is dismissed with contempt and inevitably followed by fresh accusations, based on little or no evidence, in order to keep up the pressure on Tehran.

On cue, new allegations surfaced in the midst of the latest IAEA proceedings. A former US weapons inspector David Albright released satellite images of an industrial complex at Parchin which he claimed was "a logical candidate" for developing high- explosive components needed for the trigger device to a nuclear weapon.

No further evidence was offered. But the threadbare allegation served its purpose: to assist in browbeating IAEA members to take a tough stance.

The final "compromise" resolution on Iran produced last Saturday fell short of US demands. While calling on Iran to "immediately suspend" its uranium enrichment programme, it included no automatic trigger clause to refer the matter to the UN and extended the deadline to November 25 to comply with other IAEA requirements. But as US under secretary of state John Bolton declared: "Whatever the precise wording of the resolution, the issue of the Security Council referral will be up at the November board meeting and everyone knows it."

Underlying Washington's contemptuous attitude towards the IAEA proceedings lies the Bush administration's repeated declaration that it reserves the right to take unilateral, pre-emptive action, including by military means.

US Secretary of State Colin Powell reiterated the point this week. While stating that the US had no immediate plans to attack Iran, he pointedly added: "Every option, though, of course remains on the table."

Despite Powell's denials, there are a number of indications that military action is being actively discussed. The Financial Times reported last week: "The Bush administration's warnings that it will not "tolerate" a nuclear-armed Iran have opened up a lively policy debate in Washington over the merits of military strikes against the Islamic republic's nuclear programme.

Analysts close to the administration say military options are under consideration, but have not reached a level of seriousness that indicate the US is preparing actual action."

An article in the September 27 issue of Newsweek also reported that "last week US and Israeli officials were talking of possible military action even though some believe it's already too late to keep Iran from going nuclear (if it chooses)... Newsweek has learned that the CIA and DIA have war-gamed the likely consequences of a US preemptive strike on Iran's nuclear facilities.

No one liked the outcome. As an Airforce source tells it, 'The war games were unsuccessful at preventing the conflict from escalating.'" Israel has already hinted that it may conduct military strikes to destroy Iran's nuclear facilities just as it hit Iraq's Osirik nuclear reactor in 1981.

The prospect of an Israeli attack on Iran was further heightened following reports this week that the US intends to sell 500 "bunker buster" bombs to Israel, along with thousands of other precision munitions. One of the obvious targets is Iran's nuclear establishments, many of which are in underground sites, heavily protected from aerial attack.

ANGRY IRANIAN REACTION: Iran has responded angrily to the increasingly belligerent and menacing US stance. Tehran has repeatedly warned that it will retaliate against any military attack on its soil.