TEHRAN, 1 February 2005 — Iran’s top nuclear negotiator yesterday warned that the Islamic republic intends to resume uranium enrichment and its current suspension of the controversial process will not last long.
“The length of the suspension will not be very long and will be valid for the duration of the negotiations and only on the condition that the negotiations make progress,” Hassan Rowhani told the Hamshahri newspaper.
“In the future we will most certainly resume enrichment, but as for how long the suspension will last is going to depend on many factors.”
Iran, accused by Washington of trying to build an atomic bomb, has suspended uranium enrichment as a confidence-building measure during talks with the European Union but the bloc now wants Tehran to commit itself to abandon the process completely.
The so-called EU3, Britain, France and Germany, are holding talks with Iran on a potentially lucrative trade pact linked to a definitive deal on its nuclear program.
Iran insists that its nuclear activities are peaceful and that the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty guarantees its right to peaceful enrichment activities.
