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Ali Akbar Salehi, head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organisation - Source: Reuters -
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Iran dismissed a US warning that major powers would not wait
forever for Tehran to prove it was not developing nuclear bombs,
saying any threats or deadlines would have no impact on the Islamic
Republic.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Hassan Qashqavi, speaking a week before
talks on a proposal to send Iranian uranium abroad for further
processing, also reiterated Iran's refusal to discuss its nuclear
rights with the six world powers.
"We have announced several times that we have nothing to discuss
regarding that," he told a Tehran news conference in comments
translated by Iran's state Press TV.
"That means continuation of our activities within the framework of
the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and the safeguards agreement
of the IAEA and enrichment on that basis," he said, referring to
the UN nuclear watchdog.
Such comments were likely to fan Western suspicions that Iran is
seeking to win time by stringing out inconclusive talks while
mastering nuclear technology and stockpiling enriched uranium of
potential use for atomic energy or weaponry.
Western diplomats believe Iran is trying to show just enough
flexibility to keep trade allies Russia and China opposed to
painful UN sanctions which could target its energy sector.
The West suspects Iran is seeking nuclear weapons capability behind
the facade of what Tehran says is a civilian enrichment programme
aimed at generating electricity.
Britain said it had ordered financial firms to cease business with
Iran's Bank Mellat and Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines to
counter a significant risk posed by Iranian activity facilitating
development of nuclear weapons.
"The international community will not wait indefinitely for
evidence that Iran is prepared to live up to its international
obligations," US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said in London
on Sunday, alluding to UN demands for a nuclear halt.
Asked about her remark, Qashqavi said: "If there is a deadline or
any kind of threat in their comments, they will not impact us in
any way."
In talks that both sides called constructive, Iran agreed with the
United States, Russia, China, France, Germany and Britain in Geneva
on October 1 to give UN inspectors access to a newly disclosed
enrichment plant near the city of Qom.
Iran suggests it doesn't need fuel deal
Western diplomats say Iran also agreed in principle to send about
80% of its stockpile of low-enriched uranium to Russia and France
for processing and return to Tehran.
This would replenish dwindling fuel stocks for a reactor in the
capital that produces medical isotopes, mainly for cancer
care.
Iranian, Russian, French, US and International Atomic Energy Agency
officials will meet in Vienna on October 19 to flesh out
conditions, such as amounts of uranium to be sent abroad.
"There are 150 hospitals dependent on this reactor ... We want to
receive this fuel from outside. That's why we are going to have the
meeting and we hope that we'll reach an agreement," Qashqavi
said.
But, echoing remarks by a spokesman for Iran's Atomic Energy
Organisation, he also suggested Tehran could provide the highly
processed fuel material itself if there was no deal on external
supply.
A Western security source in Europe said Iran earlier this year
approved a plan to enrich uranium to 19.7% - well above the level
needed for generating electricity - to yield material for the
Tehran reactor without foreign help.
The plan set out a timetable of one year for fulfilment, he said.
The source's account could not be immediately verified.
Any hint that Iran may embark on refining uranium above the 3.5 to
five percent typically needed for power plant fuel would heighten
Western fears of nuclear proliferation in the country.
Iran needs uranium refined to a purity of 19.7% for its Tehran
reactor.
Uranium refined to 20% or above is classified as highly enriched - theoretically usable for the fissile core of a nuclear bomb, although a minimum 80-90 percent is normally required for a viable weapon.
For world powers, the fuel deal's attraction would be in
diminishing Iran's stockpile of low-enriched uranium, already
enough to fuel one bomb if Tehran chose to enrich it further.
For Iran it would preserve medical isotope production.
Tehran has repeatedly rejected demands to halt or restrain its
enrichment programme, despite three rounds of UN sanctions since
2006.
The moderate progress in the Geneva talks muted Western calls for tougher sanctions in the near future.
