Qashqavi: Iran Among Top 10 Countries Producing Nuclear Fuel

Ilam, March 5, IRNA – Deputy Foreign Minister for Parliamentary and Consular Affaires Hassan Qashqavi said on Monday that the Islamic Republic of Iran is among top 10 countries producing nuclear fuel. Qashqavi told a group of students that many countries have put on agenda development of peaceful nuclear technology after the World War II. He said Iran initiated national nuclear program dating back to early 1970s before triumph of the 1979 Islamic Revolution. He said that western governments backtracked from contracts they had signed in 1970s, a reference to Siemens of Germany and Eurodif (uranium enrichment company) of France. The deputy foreign minister complained that the western governments, especially the United States ushered in international campaign to block Iranian access to such a highly important technology. He added that the US encouraged Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein to invade Iran in 1980-1988 and orchestrated wide-scale sanctions to stop Iranian progress. ˈIran is among top 10 countries in terms of producing nuclear fuel and energy. ˈThe western governments, especially the US and Israel, are not pleased with the Islamic Republic of Iranˈs success in the field of producing nuclear energy.ˈ/end