Iran will not suspend enrichment, says FM

Iran rejects suspending uranium enrichment and persists on its right to peaceful use of nuclear energy, according to Iranian Foreign Minister.  

• “We will continue developing Iran’s nuclear project until we get 20,000 megawatts of electricity. Because of that, our nuclear activity is going on, as it is our legitimate right,” Manouchehr Mottaki told Echorouk in an interview on Friday.
• Iran denies seeking nuclear weapons allegations while the United Nations Security Council in September unanimously adopted a resolution to urge it to suspend uranium enrichment.  
•  “Last year, we had an agreement with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to ask any question on Iran’s peaceful nuclear programme. For our part, we committed to answer those questions in a total transparency. All the questions were asked and the Agency admitted that there was no other question,” Mottaki said.
• “We were told that the Iranian answers were enough. Then, the United States of America made false allegations on Iran’s nuclear project,” he added.
• “If they want to carry on in this game, it will never end because the IAEA’s previous questions were used as allegations by the U.S. That’s why, we told the Agency not to fall in the U.S. trap.”
• Mottaki also said Iran showed total readiness for talks with the 5+1 group of nations in Geneva. “We welcomed the U.S. participation because the Americans used to repeat that they would not hold any talks until stopping uranium enrichment.”
• “U.S. participation in Geneva talks showed that they had given up their preconditions to hold nuclear talks with Iran.”
• “Their participation is a good thing for them and they know that uranium enrichment suspension is unacceptable,” said the Iranian FM.
• “Iran presented a package of proposals to the 5+1 group which made the suspension of uranium enrichment as a precondition for continuing nuclear talks.”
• “We told them they must omit the suspension option as we could reach a compromise through talks. We would accept what talks could come up with. That’s why, we reject suspension.”
• Mottaki believes that Iranians consider the United States as an important country in the international policy.
• “There is no eternal boycott policy with the U.S. The point is that the U.S. must change its policy toward the region especially Iran.”
• He said it is early to talk about any policy change in the light of the U.S. vote and the forthcoming presidential elections in Iran.
• “In the last 28 years, we did not feel any change in the policy of republican or democrat presidents regarding our region. Yet, we see now that everyone talks about change in the U.S. policy in the region.”
• “If we see radical changes in the U.S. policy, we may consider that.”
• The Iranian minister said his country has not received any application to accredit an American non-governmental organization in Tehran.