TEHRAN, Oct 19: Iran’s President Mohammad Khatami indicated on Sunday Tehran may halt uranium enrichment, which some Western governments say could be used to make atomic bombs, if it is allowed to keep its civilian atomic energy programme.

Asked by reporters if Iran was prepared to stop enriching uranium as the United States and several European countries have demanded, Mr Khatami said: “We will do whatever is necessary to solve the problems and in return we’re expecting our rights to be preserved which is (the right) to have nuclear technology.”

It was the first indication from a top Iranian official that Iran could mothball uranium enrichment facilities which it began building in 1985.

Iranian officials had previously insisted they had every right to continue enriching uranium to use in nuclear reactors.

Iranian officials have said the foreign ministers of Britain, France and Germany will visit Tehran this week to discuss a proposal to resolve Iran’s nuclear standoff before a looming October 31 UN deadline for Tehran to prove it has no atomic arms ambitions.

Asked if Iran was prepared to accept those conditions, including halting uranium enrichment, Mr Khatami said:

“We will do what is expedient for society and the nation. We have done our best for talks and exchanging views and we hope it will produce a result.”

Mr Khatami said on Friday his country had no plans to build nuclear weapons and predicted that it would reach an agreement on its nuclear programme with the UN atomic watchdog.—Reuters