ID :
95822
Sat, 12/19/2009 - 14:59
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/95822
The shortlink copeid
West should seize the opportunity for nuclear fuel swap:AEOI
TEHRAN, Dec. 19 (MNA) -- Atomic Energy Organization of Iran Director Ali Akbar Salehi has called on the United States and its allies to seize the opportunity and accept Iran’s proposal for a nuclear fuel swap.
Tehran has proposed swapping 400 kilograms of low-enriched uranium for nuclear fuel in an exchange on the island of Kish as the first phase of a deal with the major powers.
However, on December 12 the United States dismissed the proposal, which a senior U.S. official said was inconsistent with a deal allowing the Islamic Republic to avoid further sanctions.
As a signatory to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, Iran has every right to enrich as much uranium it needs, Salehi told ISNA on Friday.
“We have previously informed the International Atomic Energy Agency that the Natanz enrichment facility was designed for enriching uranium to 5 percent,” he said.
Iran has the capability to produce all the nuclear fuel it needs but decided to purchase the 20 percent enriched nuclear fuel for the Tehran research reactor from other countries, the AEOI director added.
Under the influence of international Zionism, a number of Western countries are attempting to compel Iran to withdraw from the NPT in order to intensify the international propaganda against the country’s nuclear program, Salehi stated.
However, Iran has announced on many occasions that despite the many flaws in the NPT, the Islamic Republic abides by the terms of the treaty since it is in line with the country’s national interests and efforts to establish world peace, he added.
Salehi dismissed Western allegations that Iran wants to obtain 20 percent uranium for military purposes as baseless and unfounded.
In no way does producing or obtaining 20 percent uranium mean entering into a military phase, he noted.
Commenting on the United States’ decision to set a deadline for Iran to respond to the West’s fuel swap deal, Salehi said, “Iran is a sovereign and independent state, and Western countries are well aware that they cannot set a deadline for a sovereign state.”
On the possibility that the United Nations Security Council may pass new resolutions against Iran, Salehi stated, “Iran doesn’t welcome the adoption of new resolutions, but such resolutions will not hinder our progress, particularly in the nuclear area.”
Tehran has proposed swapping 400 kilograms of low-enriched uranium for nuclear fuel in an exchange on the island of Kish as the first phase of a deal with the major powers.
However, on December 12 the United States dismissed the proposal, which a senior U.S. official said was inconsistent with a deal allowing the Islamic Republic to avoid further sanctions.
As a signatory to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, Iran has every right to enrich as much uranium it needs, Salehi told ISNA on Friday.
“We have previously informed the International Atomic Energy Agency that the Natanz enrichment facility was designed for enriching uranium to 5 percent,” he said.
Iran has the capability to produce all the nuclear fuel it needs but decided to purchase the 20 percent enriched nuclear fuel for the Tehran research reactor from other countries, the AEOI director added.
Under the influence of international Zionism, a number of Western countries are attempting to compel Iran to withdraw from the NPT in order to intensify the international propaganda against the country’s nuclear program, Salehi stated.
However, Iran has announced on many occasions that despite the many flaws in the NPT, the Islamic Republic abides by the terms of the treaty since it is in line with the country’s national interests and efforts to establish world peace, he added.
Salehi dismissed Western allegations that Iran wants to obtain 20 percent uranium for military purposes as baseless and unfounded.
In no way does producing or obtaining 20 percent uranium mean entering into a military phase, he noted.
Commenting on the United States’ decision to set a deadline for Iran to respond to the West’s fuel swap deal, Salehi said, “Iran is a sovereign and independent state, and Western countries are well aware that they cannot set a deadline for a sovereign state.”
On the possibility that the United Nations Security Council may pass new resolutions against Iran, Salehi stated, “Iran doesn’t welcome the adoption of new resolutions, but such resolutions will not hinder our progress, particularly in the nuclear area.”
