The Hindu : International : Iran to swiftly begin enrichment

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Sunday, Feb 05, 2006

International

International

Iran to swiftly begin enrichment

Atul Aneja

Teheran rejects a Russian compromise offer

DUBAI: In a swift response to the decision by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Board to refer its nuclear file to the U.N. Security Council, Iran has declared that it would begin full-scale production of enriched uranium on its soil and has rejected a Russian compromise offer in its present form.

In an interview to Iranian state television from Vienna, Iran's chief negotiator on the nuclear issue Javad Vaedi announced that, "Commercial scale uranium enrichment will be resumed in Natanz in accordance with the law passed by the Parliament." Natanz is Iran's main uranium enrichment plant.

On the Russian proposal on which discussions were slated on February 16, Mr. Vaedi said there was no "adequate reason to pursue the Russian plan." He added that, "If Russia resubmits its proposal some time in the future, would see if, under the new circumstances, it would make any sense or not." Russia had offered to undertake uranium enrichment on its soil in a joint venture facility with Iran.

The proposal sought to comply with the demand of Iran that it should be allowed to master the nuclear fuel cycle, as was its right under the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT) that it had signed.

Besides, western countries had backed that proposal, which, if implemented would deny Iran access to enriched uranium which it could divert for making weapons.

Israel irked

In reference to the Additional Protocol to the NPT, which allowed inspectors to carry out surprise inspections that Iran had earlier signed, Mr. Vaedi said that "after approval by the Iranian National Security Council, Iran would stop honouring an agreement with the IAEA allowing its inspectors broad powers to monitor Tehran's nuclear activities."

The resolution that refers Iran to the Security Council has irked Israel, as it also calls for a nuclear free zone in West Asia. Egypt along with some members of the nonaligned group had insisted on this reference, which the United States, Israel's chief ally had earlier resisted.

"Call unacceptable"

It is widely believed that Israel is the only country in the region possessing nuclear weapons, and the clause that has been included is in reference to it.

Israel's envoy to the IAEA Yisrael Michaeli said the call for a Weapons of Mass Destruction free zone in West Asia was unacceptable, especially under present circumstances.

While there is a consensus to eliminate weapons of mass destruction in the region, approving such a call at this time would be detrimental, he told the Board.

Israel is not a member of the IAEA Board of Governors but its representatives regularly attend its deliberations as observers.

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