Iran talks tough on nukes
2004-09-19 09:37
Tehran - Iran's top nuclear official said on Sunday the Islamic republic would refuse to accept any limitations on its nuclear activities, and threatened to halt tough UN inspections if the case was referred to the Security Council.
"Iran will not accept any obligations concerning the suspension of enrichment," Hassan Rowhani said at a press conference after the UN's nuclear watchdog passed a tough resolution on Iran.
Rowhani said Iran would only accept such a suspension "through negotiations and not through a resolution", saying such a move would have to be a "voluntary decision".
He also warned the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) that Iran would halt its application of a key safeguards treaty if the nuclear dossier was referred to the UN Security Council.
"We will stop applying the additional protocol if the case is sent to the Security Council," Rowhani warned.
Iran signed the additional protocol to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) in December last year. The text obliges Iran to accept tougher IAEA inspections, including short-notice visits to even undeclared facilities.
On Saturday the IAEA called on Iran to "immediately" suspend all activities related to the enrichment of uranium as it also set a November 25 deadline for a full review of Iran's alleged nuclear weapons programme.
Iran suspended enrichment in October 2003 as a confidence-building measure but has continued support activities such as building the centrifuges that refine the uranium.
Rowhani also accused European nations of violating an accord reached in late 2003 on the Islamic republic's nuclear activities.
Iran recently alarmed the United States by saying that it would be carrying out the first stage of the nuclear fuel cycle, making the uranium gas that is the feed for centrifuges.