Iran raises stakes in nuke dispute

TEHRAN – Iran yesterday upped the stakes in the standoff over its atomic programme, saying a Russian compromise proposal was no longer on the table and threatening to quit an international nuclear treaty.

The comments by Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki and his spokesman came days before Iran’s nuclear drive, alleged by the United States to be cover for weapons production, is due to be discussed on the UN Security Council. Mottaki, whose country has vehemently defended its right to carry out sensitive uranium enrichment, threatened that Iran could quit the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, which governs the peaceful use of nuclear energy.”If we reach a point where the existing mechanisms do not provide for the right of the Iranian people, then the policies of the Islamic Republic of Iran would be possibly revised and reconsidered,” Mottaki told reporters, in response to a question over whether Iran would consider leaving the NPT.”At the moment we believe that there is a chance for different sides to continue the negotiations,” he added on the sidelines of an international conference on energy and security in Asia.Iran also said the Russian compromise proposal – which would see Iran enriching uranium on Russian soil – was no longer on its agenda now that the nuclear case is being handled by UN Security Council.”The conditions have changed now, the Russian proposal is not on the agenda.The Islamic republic will not give up its rights,” foreign ministry spokesman Hamid-Reza Asefi told reporters.A spokesman for the Russian foreign ministry said it was studying the comments, “after which adjustments will be made.”Asefi also went on to say that Iran would never comply with any UN Security Council resolution ordering it to suspend uranium enrichment.When asked what the Islamic republic would do if any UN Security Council resolution ordered it to suspend uranium enrichment, Asefi said: “Never”.He did not elaborate more.Although Tehran has proposed suspending industrial-scale enrichment, it is refusing to halt enrichment research – but Western powers argue that even this would allow the clerical regime to acquire nuclear weapons know-how.- Nampa-AFPMottaki, whose country has vehemently defended its right to carry out sensitive uranium enrichment, threatened that Iran could quit the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, which governs the peaceful use of nuclear energy.”If we reach a point where the existing mechanisms do not provide for the right of the Iranian people, then the policies of the Islamic Republic of Iran would be possibly revised and reconsidered,” Mottaki told reporters, in response to a question over whether Iran would consider leaving the NPT.”At the moment we believe that there is a chance for different sides to continue the negotiations,” he added on the sidelines of an international conference on energy and security in Asia.Iran also said the Russian compromise proposal – which would see Iran enriching uranium on Russian soil – was no longer on its agenda now that the nuclear case is being handled by UN Security Council.”The conditions have changed now, the Russian proposal is not on the agenda.The Islamic republic will not give up its rights,” foreign ministry spokesman Hamid-Reza Asefi told reporters.A spokesman for the Russian foreign ministry said it was studying the comments, “after which adjustments will be made.”Asefi also went on to say that Iran would never comply with any UN Security Council resolution ordering it to suspend uranium enrichment.When asked what the Islamic republic would do if any UN Security Council resolution ordered it to suspend uranium enrichment, Asefi said: “Never”.He did not elaborate more.Although Tehran has proposed suspending industrial-scale enrichment, it is refusing to halt enrichment research – but Western powers argue that even this would allow the clerical regime to acquire nuclear weapons know-how.- Nampa-AFP