Iran Rejects EU Call To Freeze Nuclear Activities

Ali Larijani, Iran's chief nuclear negotiator (official site) 8 November 2005 -- Iran has rejected a call by the European Union to freeze all its nuclear-fuel activities.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Hamid Reza Asefi today called the demand "surprising" and said Iran had a right to develop a full civilian nuclear program.

The EU on 7 November urged Iran to comply with demands made by the UN's nuclear watchdog, the IAEA, to suspend uranium conversion.

The United States and other Western nations fear that is a step toward nuclear weapons production, but Iran says it only wants the technology to produce electricity.

Also today, Iran's top nuclear official, Ali Larijani, said he has made his final offer to resume nuclear talks with Europe.

Larijani on 6 November offered to resume the talks, which broke down in August after Tehran rejected an incentives package offered by the EU in return for a permanent end to uranium enrichment.

(Reuters/dpa)