BBC: Iran 'will not halt enrichment'

Iran 'will not halt enrichment'

August 20, 2006

Iran has said it will not suspend uranium enrichment, a key demand of an international proposal aimed at resolving the nuclear programme row.

It comes two days before Iran was due to respond to a proposal by Russia, China, France, Britain, Germany and the US aimed at resolving the nuclear row.

Iran's foreign ministry said a final decision would be based on negotiations.

But he warned that a halt to uranium enrichment was "not on the agenda".

Enrichment halt 'illogical'

Foreign ministry spokesman Hamid Reza Asefi said suspending enrichment - a key step in the nuclear fuel making process - would be a return to the past.

His comments come a few days after Iran's foreign minister, Manouchehr Mottaki, said the country was ready to discuss the issue, but would explain in any talks that a halt to enrichment would be "illogical".

The international proposal to Iran calls for a suspension of uranium enrichment in return for the partial lifting of economic sanctions and assistance with nuclear technology.

Mr Asefi said Iran's response - expected by Tuesday - would be "multi-faceted", though he did not elaborate.

Preliminary installation of a turbo generator at Iran's Bushehr nuclear power plant
Iran says its nuclear programme is entirely peaceful

In July, the United Nations Security Council passed a resolution calling on Iran to suspend enrichment by 31 August or face unspecified economic and diplomatic sanctions.

Iran has said that it would respond to any possible sanctions with a painful response - which may involve a cut in its oil production.

Missile tests

On Saturday, Iran launched a series of major military exercises, with 10 short-range surface-to-surface missiles being launched in a test on Sunday.

According to Iranian state television, the tests included a launch of a Saegheh (Lightning) missile, which reportedly has a range of 80 to 250 kilometres (50 to 155 miles).

The missile is not thought to be capable of carrying a nuclear warhead, news agency AP reported.

The Iranian military has said its wargames are a reaction to what it sees as a heightening of tension in the Middle East.

A military training plane caught fire and crashed after trying to make an emergency landing on a highway outside of Tehran. The pilot managed to eject safely.