TEHRAN, 20 July 2005 — Iran’s outgoing President Mohammad Khatami said yesterday that Tehran would not bargain on its right to enrich uranium during talks with Europe on its nuclear activities. “Iran’s admission to the World Trade Organization and the mastering of the fuel cycle are the rights of the Iranian people ... and are not negotiable,” Khatami was quoted as saying by state television.
Khatami’s reference to the WTO stemmed from the fact that the Europeans succeeded in convincing the United States to lift its long-standing objections to Iran beginning negotiations to join the organization. He reiterated Iran’s insistence on the peaceful nature of its nuclear program, and the government’s stance that its freeze on enrichment - a key part of the fuel cycle — “will not become permanent.”
Iran agreed in November to suspend enrichment activities during negotiations with Britain, France and Germany, representing the European Union. The EU-3 have promised to come up with a proposal by the end of this month that could make or break a lengthy diplomatic process aimed at easing fears in the West that Iran is seeking nuclear weapons technology.
“We are waiting for the Europeans, to show in their proposals the same good will they did three or so months ago so that, with their cooperation, we might master peaceful nuclear technology,” Khatami said.
In contrast to the United States, which suspects Tehran of wanting to build nuclear bombs, the EU-3 is seeking to engage the Islamic state, offering trade and other benefits to persuade it to curb its nuclear plans. Washington accuses Tehran of using a civilian atomic energy program as a cover for weapons development and seeks a permanent halt to uranium enrichment and plutonium reprocessing activities that could be used to build arms. Iran denies the charge and says it has the right under the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty to the peaceful use of nuclear technology, including making atomic fuel.
Iranian officials are to meet representatives of the EU trio of Britain, France and Germany in London, Iran’s Supreme National Security Council spokesman said yesterday. Ali Aqamohammadi told ISNA news agency in the meeting, scheduled for today, the Iranian side would first brief the EU on President-elect Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and his future policies, including his policies for Iran’s controversial nuclear program.
“Europe has a wrong interpretation of the new president which we will try to correct,” the spokesman said, referring to the hard-line image of the new president, which some observers speculate might also harm progress in nuclear talks. “We further hope that the EU will elaborate on their new proposals and take effective and logical steps for making the talks progress,” he added. Aqamohammadi said that the written EU proposal should officially be presented to Iran no later than Aug. 1.
