Iran Hints It May Suspend Some Nuclear Activities
[Excerpt] October 25, 2004Dow Jones Newswires
The Associated Press
TEHRAN -- Iran indicated Monday that it may suspend some nuclear activities in a bid to reach a compromise with Europe, but it didn't say which activities. Iran 's top nuclear negotiator, Hasan Rowhani, told state television the government was still considering its response to the offer made by the U.K., Germany and France at last week's meeting on the Iranian nuclear program.
"We are trying to choose the best course of work," he said.
The U.S. believes Iran has a covert program to produce nuclear weapons and has been lobbying for the International Atomic Energy Agency to refer Iran to the U.N. Security Council, which could impose sanctions. In an effort to avoid a confrontation, the European powers have offered Iran a package of incentives in return for its permanently giving up uranium enrichment.
Iran has repeatedly said it will never abandon enrichment, a technology that can produce fuel for nuclear reactors as well as bombs, but Monday Rowhani suggested some flexibility in the negotiations with the Europeans.
"Indefinite doesn't mean permanent," Rowhani said. "They (the Europeans) called for indefinite suspension as long as talks are underway. They say, for instance, that if negotiations are to last 6 or 7 months, then Iran should not violate the suspension for that period."
He didn't elaborate and it wasn't clear what Iran would suspend. It is currently suspending the actual enrichment of uranium, but it is continuing with related activities, such as building nuclear centrifuges, which the International Atomic Energy Agency has asked it to stop.
The U.K., Germany and France have warned that most European countries would back Washington's call to refer Iran 's nuclear dossier to the U.N. Security Council if Iran doesn't abandon all enrichment activities by Nov. 25, when the IAEA board of governors is due to meet in Vienna.
Iran is due to resume talks with the European powers Wednesday.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Hamid Reza Asefi Sunday described the European proposal as "unbalanced," but said the Europeans had "chosen the correct path of dialogue."
Rowhani said Iran was cooperating with the IAEA to prove that America "lies."
"That we cooperate with the IAEA is not because of Europe, but to make clear to the world that the United States lied when it said Iran was covertly seeking nuclear weapons," Rowhani said.
"No country can force any other country to stop an activity which is its legitimate right, even for one hour. Therefore suspension, of any extent and duration, will be a voluntary Iranian decision," said Rowhani, who is also secretary of the Supreme National Security Council. ...