Iran FM rejects suspension of uranium enrichment

Iran Focus: Tehran, Iran, Sep. 29 – Iran’s Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki rejected on Friday demands by the international community that the Islamic Republic suspend uranium enrichment, the process which could be used to develop atomic weapons. Iran Focus

Tehran, Iran, Sep. 29 – Iran’s Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki rejected on Friday demands by the international community that the Islamic Republic suspend uranium enrichment, the process which could be used to develop atomic weapons.

Mottaki told state television that Iran saw no reason to halt the activity.

“There is no reason or logic for a suspension of Iran’s nuclear activities”, he said.

“The West has experienced that the language of threats and referrals to the Security Council are ineffective, and now it has no choice but to negotiate”, he said, adding, “The United States’ position on Iran’s nuclear issue has changed and Europe is no longer pursuing the previous U.S. position”.

The United Nations Security Council adopted Resolution 1696 on July 31 demanding that Tehran suspend all its uranium enrichment activities by August 31 or face the threat of sanctions. Tehran missed that deadline.

The chief of the UN nuclear watchdog Mohammad ElBaradei reported on August 31 that Tehran had not suspended its uranium enrichment activities and had blocked IAEA inspectors from inspecting its nuclear facilities.