Iranian Foreign Minister Kamal Kharazi said Wednesday that his country will resume uranium enrichment once its relations with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) return to normal.  

"It's our legitimate right to enrich uranium ... We suspended uranium enrichment voluntarily and temporarily," Kharazi told reporters after a Cabinet meeting in Tehran.

"When our relations with the IAEA return to normal, we will definitely resume enrichment," he added.

The Iranian official also said Tehran would halt its cooperation with the UN nuclear watchdog if European states fail to counter US pressure over its nuclear program.

"We advise the Europeans to respect their obligations and to resist American pressure, otherwise there is no reason for cooperation to continue," Kharazi said.

The United States and key European powers reached tentative agreement on a draft resolution criticizing Iran for continuing to hide some suspicious activities but putting off seeking any sanctions until at least June.

(Xinhua News Agency March 11, 2004)