16 July 2005 (RFE/RL) -- Iran says it will never surrender its right to enrich uranium for nuclear fuel.
Ali Aghamohammadi, a spokesman for Iran's Supreme National Security Council, told the ISNA news agency that Tehran has every right to enrich the uranium it mines in its central deserts.
Aghamohammadi said no incentives can persuade Iran to give up this right.
Washington believes Iran is enriching uranium in pursuit of a nuclear weapon, an accusation Tehran denies.
Diplomats from an EU troika of Britain, France, and Germany have been seeking a compromise in the dispute, asking Iran to surrender its fuel-making program in return for economic incentives.
They have until late July or early August to present Iran with a final set of proposals to resolve the deadlock.
(Reuters/AFP)
Ali Aghamohammadi, a spokesman for Iran's Supreme National Security Council, told the ISNA news agency that Tehran has every right to enrich the uranium it mines in its central deserts.
Aghamohammadi said no incentives can persuade Iran to give up this right.
Washington believes Iran is enriching uranium in pursuit of a nuclear weapon, an accusation Tehran denies.
Diplomats from an EU troika of Britain, France, and Germany have been seeking a compromise in the dispute, asking Iran to surrender its fuel-making program in return for economic incentives.
They have until late July or early August to present Iran with a final set of proposals to resolve the deadlock.
(Reuters/AFP)