Iran Says No To Compromise On Nuclear Dispute

Workers at Iran's nuclear facility in Isfahan 13 August 2005 -- Iran's deputy parliamentary speaker, Mohammad-Reza Bahonar, said today there will be no compromise over the uranium conversion plant at the Isfahan facility.

Bahonar told the Fars news agency that further negotiations with the European Union should only focus on
reopening the central Iranian uranium enrichment plant of Natanz, near Isfahan.

Iran has rejected the 18 August deadline by the United Nation's nuclear watchdog agency to close down the Isfahan plant until 3 September. It said that as a signatory of the Non-Proliferation Treaty, the country is entitled to pursue a civil
atomic energy program.

Iran has said its nuclear program is only for peaceful use. The West has expressed fears that the process could also be
used to make atomic bombs.

(dpa)