Iran says ready to negotiate on enrichment
ISN SECURITY WATCH (Tuesday, 4 April 2006: 16.45 CET) – Iran stands ready to negotiate on large-scale uranium enrichment but will not give up the right to enrich uranium autonomously, according to Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki.
"The enrichment of uranium [...] is Iran's right as defined as a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty," Mouttaki said, in a reiteration of a long-held Iranian position.
Iran resumed research-scale uranium enrichment in February, according to the Associated Press.
The minister added: "For industrial-scale production of nuclear fuel, which is the next stage [of enrichment], we are ready for negotiations."
The comments are a sign that Iran may be willing to demonstrate flexibility on large-scale uranium processing following the release of a UN Security Council statement seeking an end to enrichment activities.
Many countries fear that Iran has a covert nuclear weapons program which it has been concealing from International Atomic Energy Agency inspectors. Iran claims its nuclear program is intended solely for civilian purposes.
Large-scale enrichment is required for running a nuclear reactor and for the production of nuclear weapons.
The Islamic republic has rejected a proposal under which large-scale uranium enrichment for its nuclear program would be exported to Russia in return for a guarantee of supply.
A parliamentary ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin criticized Iranian intransigence over the offer and the Islamic republic's testing this week of two newly-developed missile systems.
"I would welcome more flexibility from Tehran in connection with the well-known Russian proposal on joint uranium enrichment, and [Iran should] not place bets on the demonstration of some new types of weapons," said Konstantin Kosachev, the head of the Duma's parliamentary foreign affairs committee, in comments carried by the RIA Novosti news agency.
Russia is Iran's primary partner in the development of the Bushehr nuclear reactor which is expected to come on stream later this year.
"The enrichment of uranium [...] is Iran's right as defined as a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty," Mouttaki said, in a reiteration of a long-held Iranian position.
Iran resumed research-scale uranium enrichment in February, according to the Associated Press.
The minister added: "For industrial-scale production of nuclear fuel, which is the next stage [of enrichment], we are ready for negotiations."
The comments are a sign that Iran may be willing to demonstrate flexibility on large-scale uranium processing following the release of a UN Security Council statement seeking an end to enrichment activities.
Many countries fear that Iran has a covert nuclear weapons program which it has been concealing from International Atomic Energy Agency inspectors. Iran claims its nuclear program is intended solely for civilian purposes.
Large-scale enrichment is required for running a nuclear reactor and for the production of nuclear weapons.
The Islamic republic has rejected a proposal under which large-scale uranium enrichment for its nuclear program would be exported to Russia in return for a guarantee of supply.
A parliamentary ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin criticized Iranian intransigence over the offer and the Islamic republic's testing this week of two newly-developed missile systems.
"I would welcome more flexibility from Tehran in connection with the well-known Russian proposal on joint uranium enrichment, and [Iran should] not place bets on the demonstration of some new types of weapons," said Konstantin Kosachev, the head of the Duma's parliamentary foreign affairs committee, in comments carried by the RIA Novosti news agency.
Russia is Iran's primary partner in the development of the Bushehr nuclear reactor which is expected to come on stream later this year.
posted by Marko at 4/04/2006 08:14:00 AM
<< Home