Iran Rejects Russia's Uranium Proposal

Iran rejected on Sunday another proposal from Russia to enrich uranium on its soil, putting an end to one of the most diplomatic solutions to settle international concerns. Hamid Reza Asefi, a Foreign Ministry spokesman, stated:
"The Russian proposal is not on our agenda anymore.
The situation has changed. We should wait and see how developments will go on among different states, including the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council."

"We should wait and see how developments will go on among different states, including the five permanent members of the United Nations Security-Council. Undoubtedly, Iran will not renounce its rights," Asefi added.

This matter is scheduled to be discussed this week by the Security Council. This difficult issue was referred to the UN by the International Atomic Energy Agency's report on Iran's nuclear programs. The United States, China, France, Britain and Russia begin their discussions Friday afternoon in order to come up with a response for Iran's nuclear problem.

Iran reiterated the fact that its nuclear activities are for civilian purposes, namely the development of nuclear energy. Russia's plan still remains attractive for the international powers because it will keep the risky elements outside Iran, bring uranium on Russian grounds and enrich it.

Manouchehr Mottaki, Iran's foreign minister stated that Iran will not use oil as a weapon and will continue supplying it for Asia. "Iran stresses restoration of its right to access nuclear technology and prefers to make use of internationally recognized mechanisms and benefit from its membership of the Non-Proliferation Treaty. Iran will revise its policies if it reaches the conclusion that current mechanisms cannot preserve the Iranian nation's rights," he added.