Hassan Rowhani, a Shiite cleric who was, until earlier this month, the secretary of the Supreme National Security Council (SNSC), said, “The Islamic Republic of Iran will give Europe a chance to negotiate with Iran regarding our commencement of nuclear activities at Natanz so that activities in the Natanz project start with mutual agreement”.
Natanz, located about 150 km north of the central city of Isfahan is the site of Irans largest known uranium enrichment plant. Iran initially kept the site secret from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), camouflaging it as a project aimed at eradication of deserts. The site was first revealed as a nuclear centre by the opposition National Council of Resistance of Iran in August 2002.
The EU trio France, Germany, and the United Kingdom had earlier this month put forward a package of incentives for Iran to abandon its nuclear fuel cycle, including uranium enrichment at Natanz. Iran, however, rejected the offer and recommenced parts of the fuel cycle when it broke weapons inspectors’ seals at its Uranium Conversion Facility in Isfahan, central Iran, and started uranium conversion. Western experts and diplomats said the commencement of work at the UCF effectively breached the November 2004 Paris Agreement which Tehran had signed with the EU3 in order to avoid referral to the United Nations Security Council.
Rowhani said that the European proposal did not recognise Iran’s rights, adding that any attempt by the IAEA to haul Iran’s nuclear file before the Security Council would be “illegal”.
