AFP: Iran will reject any European proposal for a complete cessation of its work on the nuclear fuel cycle, but is willing to consider further “confidence-building” measures and extending a suspension of uranium enrichment, a top Iranian official told AFP Saturday. AFP
TEHRAN – Iran will reject any European proposal for a complete cessation of its work on the nuclear fuel cycle, but is willing to consider further “confidence-building” measures and extending a suspension of uranium enrichment, a top Iranian official told AFP Saturday.
“We would be willing to consider any package that recognises the full right of Iran to enjoy peaceful nuclear technology within the framework of the NPT (nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty),” Hossein Mousavian, a senior national security official involved in the nuclear negotiations, said in an interview.
“But Iran is not prepared for cessation. Any package including a cessation of fuel cycle work would be rejected by Iran,” he added.
Mousavian said Iran expected the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to recognise its right under the NPT to possess the full nuclear fuel cycle.
If this were the case, he said the Islamic republic was ready to consider extending its suspension of uranium enrichment and discuss new initiatives that would provide long-term guarantees that the process would never be diverted to military purposes.
“Iran is definitely open to confidence-building measures, full cooperation with the IAEA, full transparency and all confidence building measures that are required to assure the world that all enrichment activities would always remain peaceful and never be for military purposes,” he said.
