Iran Vows To Continue Uranium Enrichment Research

Ali Larijani, Iran's chief negotiator on nuclear affairs (file photo) (RFE/RL) March 4, 2006 -- Iran's chief nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani today said that Tehran will not end its research program into the process of enriching uranium.

Larijani was speaking on his return from talks in Vienna with Britain, France, and Germany. The March 3 meeting failed to resolve the standoff over Iran's uranium enrichment-related work. The EU trio had demanded that Iran suspend its work on uranium enrichment.

Larijani said he told the EU trio Iran " will not accept any demands to suspend" research-related enrichment as it has an acknowledged right to do so under international law.

Referring to the Russian plan to enrich Iranian uranium in Russia, Larijani for the first time indicated that temporary uranium enrichment outside Iran would be possible.

(dpa)