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Syria-Lebanon-Iran
Nuclear Negotiator Warns Europe
2005-11-29
Tehran, 29 Nov. (AKI) - In a extensive interview with the Tehran-based Mehr news agency, Javad Vaidi, the head of the Iranian delegation which will meet with representatives of the three European Union countries of Britain, France and Germany on 6 December, has warned that Iran is only interested in the negotiations if there will be the recognition of its right to conduct uranium enrichment, a process which can be used in the development of nuclear weapons.

"As was anticipated by Ali Larijani, the secretary general of the Supreme Council of National Security, these talks could go forward only and exclusively in the case that there is a recognition of the Islamic Republic's right to complete its uranium enrichment plant" Vaidi, said. “We will not sit at the negotiating table with the three European countries, if there are pre-conditions of this type," Vaidi, Larijani's deputy added.

Vaidi also warned that if in the course of the coming meeting of the governors of the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency), the issue of Iran is included as part of the agenda to be dealt with, "the Islamic republic will immediately abandon the negotiating table." "We are against these talks that do not have a specific aim and we believe that in no case is it possible to negotiate on our rights to enrich uranium in our plants," said Vaidi.
"If we don't get our way, we'll take our ball and go home. So there!"
Vaidi stressed that his country has already rejected the European proposal to transfer the uranium enrichment to a foreign country. In conclusion, Vaidi said that "without the support of Russia and China, Europe and the United States could never refer the case of Iran to the United Nations security council."

Iran had frozen all work at Isfahan late last year under a deal with France, Britain and Germany but resumed work in August after Tehran rejected an EU offer of trade and other incentives in exchange for a cessation of fuel work and resumed uranium conversion, which is a precursor to enrichment work. The IAEA last month passed a resolution submitted by Britain, France and Germany, which paved the way for Iran to be reported to the UN Security Council over its nuclear activities. The EU countries and the United States are concerned that Iran's uranium enrichment programme could be used to build weapons. Iran insists its nuclear programme is peaceful and designed to meet its energy needs.

Iran had informed the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) late October that it planned to process a new batch of uranium without giving a specific date and earlier this month confirmed that it had begun the process at its plant in Isfahan.
Posted by:Steve

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