Iran says its nuclear work is “irreversible”

Iran Focus: Tehran, Iran, Apr. 23 – Iran declared on Sunday that it would ignore demands by the United Nations Security Council to freeze its uranium enrichment activities, saying that its sensitive nuclear work was “irreversible”. Iran Focus

Tehran, Iran, Apr. 23 – Iran declared on Sunday that it would ignore demands by the United Nations Security Council to freeze its uranium enrichment activities, saying that its sensitive nuclear work was “irreversible”.

“Iran’s uranium enrichment activities are irreversible”, Foreign Ministry spokesman Hamid-Reza Asefi told reporters during his weekly press conference.

“Suspension of nuclear research and development activities by the Islamic Republic of Iran is more an issue for the press”, Asefi said.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran will not forego its rights, which must be recognised”, he added.

Commenting on whether Iran would accept a Russian proposal aimed at breaking the international deadlock, he said that Iran would not abandon its right to enrich uranium on its own soil.

On Saturday, Iran’s ambassador to the International Atomic Energy Agency said that Iran had a “basic agreement” with Russia to enrich uranium on Russian soil, but added that details had yet to be worked out.

Moscow has proposed a deal whereby Iran would enrich uranium exclusively on Russian soil. Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman clarified on Sunday that Tehran would not be willing to abandon uranium enrichment on Iranian soil.

“The issue of suspension is not on our agenda”, Asefi said.

The Security Council adopted a “Presidential Statement” unanimously on March 29 giving Iran 30 days to suspend all of its uranium enrichment activities and resume its cooperation with the UN nuclear watchdog.