Enrichment to go on even if UN role ends: Iran rejects compromise
KUWAIT CITY, May 20: Iran’s foreign minister rejected on Saturday the latest idea being floated to resolve his country’s standoff with the international community saying that Tehran would not give up uranium enrichment even if its file is withdrawn from the UN Security Council.
Manouchehr Mottaki told journalists here that Iran supports suspending the talks in the council, but ‘suspending nuclear activities goes against our legitimate rights and is not part of the NPT’, or Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty.
The five permanent Security Council members and Germany are considering dropping UN Security Council involvement in Iran’s nuclear file if Tehran agrees to suspend uranium enrichment, said diplomats but could push for selective sanctions backed by the threat of force if it doesn’t, diplomats said on Saturday.
Mr Mottaki’s comments came at the end of a brief visit to Kuwait, where he met its leader, Sheik Sabah al Ahmed al Sabah.
Diplomats were considering a draft proposal to end Iran’s standoff with the international community ahead of a meeting on Wednesday. In return for suspending discussion of Iran’s nuclear file in the council, Tehran would resume discussion of its nuclear program, suspend uranium enrichment during such talks and lift a ban on intrusive inspections by experts of the International Atomic Energy Agency.
It also offers help in building new light-water reactors in Iran, offers an assured supply of nuclear fuel for up to five years and asks Tehran to accept a plan that would move its enrichment program to Russia.
If Iran does not cooperate, however, the draft calls for bans on travel visas, freezing assets and banning financial transactions of key government figures and those involved in Iran’s nuclear program.
It also suggests imposing an arms embargo, and other measures including an embargo on shipping refined oil products to Iran.—AP
