Iran will not halt uranium enrichment for a second

TEHRAN,Jan.20(MNA)--In an interview with Al-Alam News Network on Friday, Iran’s ambassador to the UN nuclear watchdog, Ali Asghar Soltanieh said, “The negotiations with the agency were successful in terms of bringing views closer and resolving certain disagreements, but a structured approach (document) will be signed after all mutual disagreements are settled.” “Agreement was made with the agency on certain issues, but no document has been signed yet,” he said, adding, “The talks with the agency will continue to solve the disagreements.” He added that Iran is ready to clear up the existing ambiguities. Elsewhere in his remarks, Soltanieh commented on the main bone of contention between Tehran and the West, namely Iran’s uranium enrichment program, and said, “Iran has not halted and will not halt enrichment even for a second.” Iran’s talks with the IAEA are separate from but still related to the negotiations between Tehran and the 5+1 group (the five permanent members of the UN Security Council and Germany) over the country’s nuclear program, the latest round of which was held in Moscow on June 18 and 19, 2012. According to Reuters, the lack of outcome in talks between Iran and the UN nuclear watchdog may strengthen suspicions among analysts and diplomats that Iran would make concessions to the IAEA only if it won something in return from the powers, which unlike the UN agency can ease sanctions on the country. The six major powers have demanded that Iran halt 20 percent enrichment, shut down the Fordo uranium enrichment facility, and ship all of its stocks of 20 percent enriched uranium out of the country. Iran’s main demand is that its right to uranium enrichment, as enumerated in the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, be recognized.