Iran will not halt enrichment but will continue to cooperate with IAEA: IAEA Iranian ambassador

TEHRAN,April 3(MNA) – The Iranian ambassador to the International Atomic Energy Agency said that Tehran will not halt the uranium enrichment component of its nuclear program, but it will continue to cooperate with the UN nuclear watchdog. The Islamic Republic of Iran “has not been pursuing a nuclear weapon,” Ambassador Ali Asghar Soltanieh said in a recent interview with Fox News. We “will never, ever suspend our activities, including (uranium) enrichment,” he added. The main bone of contention between Iran and the West is Iran’s uranium enrichment program. Iran says all its nuclear activities are totally peaceful, and, as an International Atomic Energy Agency member and a nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty signatory, it has the legal right to produce nuclear fuel for its research reactors and nuclear power plants. Commenting on the “politicized” debate on the Parchin military site, which is located southeast of Tehran, Soltanieh stated that while Tehran is willing to cooperate with the IAEA on its nuclear energy program, it will not accede to any demand to visit its military facilities. “We cannot permit each time any country wants to knock at the door and wants to go to our military sites,” he said. Tehran rejected requests by the IAEA delegations to inspect the Parchin site during their visits to Iran from January 29 to 31 and February 21 to 22. The Iranian envoy to the UN nuclear body went on to say that Western sanctions against Iran over its nuclear activities have been ineffective. “Sanctions have had no effect,” he pointed out, adding, “We are more determined to pursue our nuclear activities.” Soltanieh also downplayed threats of a military attack against Iranian nuclear sites and reiterated that Tehran would give “a strong response with an iron fist” to any such measure. “Nobody would dare attack Iran,” he said.