But Manuchehr Mottaki told reporters in Thailand on 24 February that Iran reserves the right to develop nuclear technology for peaceful purposes.
His comments come at a time when top officials from Russia and China -- Sergei Kiriyenko, head of Russia's atomic energy agency, and Chinese Deputy Foreign Minister Lu Guozeng -- are in Tehran for nuclear talks.
Moscow has proposed enriching uranium for Iran in Russia, in an attempt to assuage Western fears Iranians could divert enriched uranium for nuclear weapons.
Such a deal could avert UN sanctions.
(AP)
Security Guarantees For Iran?
SECURITY GUARANTEES On January 26, RFE/RL Radio Farda correspondent Fatemeh Aman spoke with former UN chief weapons inspector HANS BLIX about the confrontation between Iran and the international community over Tehran's nuclear ambitions. Blix urged the United States to participate in direct negotiations with Tehran and to offer Iran security guarantees that are similar to those being discussed with North Korea...(more)
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Listen to the complete interview (about five minutes):
THE COMPLETE STORY: RFE/RL's complete coverage of controversy surrounding Iran's nuclear program.