Iran Rejects Russia Nuclear Plan

02/01/2006| IslamWeb

Iran has dismissed a proposal that it conduct uranium enrichment in Russia as a way out of an impasse in talks over its controversial nuclear programme.

Supreme National Security Council Secretary Ali Larijani said it was not logical for any country to entrust its energy security to another state.

The US and EU want Iran to give up its ambitions to manufacture fuel suitable for use in nuclear bombs.

Earlier, Iran said it had developed equipment to separate uranium.

Deadlock

Iran says it developed the machinery to separate uranium from its core itself because no foreign country was willing to supply it.

Iran's efforts to build a full nuclear fuel cycle have caused alarm in the US, which fears it could use the technology to build atomic weapons.

Iran has denied it is seeking to build a nuclear bomb and says it is seeking only to produce electricity.

Talks broke down in August, when Iran resumed converting uranium.

Moscow suggested last year that Iran be allowed to conduct uranium enrichment in Russia, giving the country access to the nuclear fuel cycle while ensuring its nuclear program was for peaceful purposes.

Mr Larijani said the Russian plan was only a few lines long and was not well-thought out.

"It has serious flaws," he told national television.

He also warned of a "crushing" response if Iran's nuclear and military facilities were attacked by the US or Israel.

PHOTO CAPTION

Iran's Parliament Speaker Gholamali Haddadadel (L) shakes hands with Boris Gryzlov, speaker of the State Duma, Russia's lower house of parliament, in Moscow December 12, 2005. (Reuters)

Source: BBC