Iran to safeguard its right to nuke tech
Sunday, 2 December 2007
Tehran, Dec 1 (Reuters): Iran said Saturday it would safeguard its right to nuclear technology whatever European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana reported about his latest talks with Tehran.
Solana said he was disappointed after a meeting on Friday in London with Iranian chief nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili that was seen as a last chance to avertt US pressure for more UN sanctions against Iran over its disputed atomic programme.
The absence of a breakthrough at the talks means six world powers meeting in Paris on Saturday will try to agree new penalties to propose to the United Nations, despite differences in their approach to halting Iran's nuclear programme.
The United States is leading efforts to isolate Iran because it believes the Islamic Republic is seeking to build atomic bombs. Tehran says its nuclear plans are peaceful.
Asked how Iran would respond if Solana gave a negative report, Jalili said on his return from London:
Iran says it will not suspend uranium enrichment as demanded by the UN Security Council on grounds it is a national right.
Asked if he expected another UN resolution against Iran, Jalili said: "Currently there is a positive atmosphere based on the (IAEA's) report and our logical behaviour within the framework of the NPT but there are a few powers that had pre- judgements to act against our logical behaviour."
Iran is working with the IAEA on a plan agreed in August to answer outstanding questions about its nuclear programme.
The six powers meeting in Paris -- Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia and the United States -- have said they would pass a new UN resolution if there was no progress over Iran's nuclear programme by December.
But they remain at odds over how soon to resort to more UN penalties, or how harsh they should be.
Solana said he was disappointed after a meeting on Friday in London with Iranian chief nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili that was seen as a last chance to avertt US pressure for more UN sanctions against Iran over its disputed atomic programme.
The absence of a breakthrough at the talks means six world powers meeting in Paris on Saturday will try to agree new penalties to propose to the United Nations, despite differences in their approach to halting Iran's nuclear programme.
The United States is leading efforts to isolate Iran because it believes the Islamic Republic is seeking to build atomic bombs. Tehran says its nuclear plans are peaceful.
Asked how Iran would respond if Solana gave a negative report, Jalili said on his return from London:
Iran says it will not suspend uranium enrichment as demanded by the UN Security Council on grounds it is a national right.
Asked if he expected another UN resolution against Iran, Jalili said: "Currently there is a positive atmosphere based on the (IAEA's) report and our logical behaviour within the framework of the NPT but there are a few powers that had pre- judgements to act against our logical behaviour."
Iran is working with the IAEA on a plan agreed in August to answer outstanding questions about its nuclear programme.
The six powers meeting in Paris -- Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia and the United States -- have said they would pass a new UN resolution if there was no progress over Iran's nuclear programme by December.
But they remain at odds over how soon to resort to more UN penalties, or how harsh they should be.