WASHINGTON, May 8: Iran has a “legitimate right” to nuclear technology and has no plans to permanently halt uranium enrichment, Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi told Time magazine. Iran agreed in November last year to suspend its fuel cycle work — the focus of international fears the country may be seeking nuclear weapons — and open talks with Britain, France and Germany.

Mr Kharrazi’s comments in an interview with the news magazine, published on Sunday, but conducted last week, supported repeated comments from Tehran that it will resume uranium enrichment work if an agreement is not reached with the European Union.

Iran said on Sunday that it was preparing a bill to ratify a key nuclear protocol but also stood firm on its intention to resume sensitive nuclear fuel work despite intense international pressure.

Asked if there were any circumstances that could lead to a permanent freeze on uranium enrichment, Mr Kharrazi replied: “There will not be any permanent freeze, because (it) is our legitimate right to have this (nuclear) technology and produce what we need for the country. No incentive can substitute for our legitimate right.”

The clerical regime has voiced frustration over its negotiations with the three European states, who have offered a package of incentives in return for “objective guarantees” from Iran that it will not develop weapons.

Iran has also repeatedly said it will resume uranium enrichment work if an agreement is not reached with the EU.

“Our engagement with the European side was not to stop enrichment but to continue with enrichment in a manner that would assure the other side that we would not divert material for weapons,” Kharrazi told Time.

Asked about the possibility of UN sanctions, the minister replied: “If for political reasons, the Americans want to push an Iranian foreign policy to the Security Council ... I dont think that would lead to any result that would be wished by the Americans.”

He added that Iran was used to sanctions, and that it had managed to exist under such measures.—AFP