Iran wants to continue nuclear work, warns UN

TEHRAN – Iran’s top national security official announced yesterday that Tehran wanted to continue controversial uranium enrichment work and warned the UN Security Council against choosing a “path of confrontation”.

Nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani also said Iran would take until August 22 to reply to an international offer of incentives in exchange for a freeze of the sensitive work. “According to the adopted plan to generate 20 000 megawatts of atomic enrgy over the next 20 years, the Islamic republic has decided to make some of its own nuclear fuel inside Iran,” Larijani, the head of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, said a statement read out on state television.He said Tehran was “ready to find a diplomatic solution with a suitable calendar for both parties” but issued a warning to the Security Council – currently discussing ways to pressure Iran into freezing enrichment work.”If the path of confrontation is chosen instead of the path of dialogue, and if there is any action to limit the absolute rights of the Iranian people, the Islamic republic will have no choice but to revise its policy,” the statement warned.Last week Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia and the United States decided to send Iran’s case back to the Security Council after Tehran failed to respond to their offer, billed as a way to guarantee Iranian access to civilian nuclear technology while preventing it from getting the bomb.Iran says it only wants to enrich to the low levels needed to make reactor fuel and that this is a right under the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.The technology can, however, be extended to make weapons, which has led to demands for a suspension while a probe by the UN nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency, is still in progress.Tehran has repeatedly insisted that it is ready to negotiate, but at the same time has rejected any “preconditions” being imposed.”Iran has welcomed the offer from the big powers, and the examination of it is continuing.This takes time, and the reply will be given on August 22,” said the statement, billed by state television as an “important announcement”.The Security Council members, Larijani said, should “return to the negotiating table”.- Nampa-AFP”According to the adopted plan to generate 20 000 megawatts of atomic enrgy over the next 20 years, the Islamic republic has decided to make some of its own nuclear fuel inside Iran,” Larijani, the head of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, said a statement read out on state television.He said Tehran was “ready to find a diplomatic solution with a suitable calendar for both parties” but issued a warning to the Security Council – currently discussing ways to pressure Iran into freezing enrichment work.”If the path of confrontation is chosen instead of the path of dialogue, and if there is any action to limit the absolute rights of the Iranian people, the Islamic republic will have no choice but to revise its policy,” the statement warned.Last week Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia and the United States decided to send Iran’s case back to the Security Council after Tehran failed to respond to their offer, billed as a way to guarantee Iranian access to civilian nuclear technology while preventing it from getting the bomb.Iran says it only wants to enrich to the low levels needed to make reactor fuel and that this is a right under the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.The technology can, however, be extended to make weapons, which has led to demands for a suspension while a probe by the UN nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency, is still in progress.Tehran has repeatedly insisted that it is ready to negotiate, but at the same time has rejected any “preconditions” being imposed.”Iran has welcomed the offer from the big powers, and the examination of it is continuing.This takes time, and the reply will be given on August 22,” said the statement, billed by state television as an “important announcement”.The Security Council members, Larijani said, should “return to the negotiating table”.- Nampa-AFP