Iran won't give up nuke plan

2005-12-05 16:58

Tehran - Iran's top nuclear negotiator reiterated on Monday that Tehran would not give up its ambition to produce its own nuclear fuel, dismissing a proposal for the Islamic republic to conduct sensitive enrichment work abroad.

Ali Larijani nevertheless said Iran would give a chance to negotiations on easing suspicions of a nuclear weapons drive before ending a freeze on uranium enrichment - which makes reactor fuel, but can be extended to military purposes.

"Very certainly, enrichment will take place in Iran, but for confidence building we decided on negotiations," Larijani, secretary of Iran's supreme national security council, told a news conference.

Britain, France and Germany - backed by the United States - argue that the only guarantee Iran will not use its atomic energy drive as a means to acquire the bomb is for the country to totally abandon uranium enrichment activities.

Security council

The EU-3 and Iran are expected to meet in the coming weeks, with the Europeans set to press forward a proposal from Moscow under which Iran's uranium would be enriched only on Russian soil.

If Iran refuses, the issue could be referred to the UN security council.

But Larijani said enrichment "is not something that a country invests in and then transfers it.

"We don't see the need for such a thing. What can be done in a few years we can do right now.

"It is not proper and not politically reasonable," he said, renewing his objection to Moscow's suggestion.

He did not say when Iran could resume the ultra-sensitive work, but added that "we prefer to have a result on enrichment through negotiations, and then start it".

- AFP