Iran vows to pursue uranium enrichment program

0 Comment(s)Print E-mail Xinhua, November 29, 2012
Adjust font size:

Amid international attempts to resume nuclear talks with the Islamic republic, Iran vows to continue its uranium enrichment program.

In a meeting in Brussels last week, representatives from UN Security Council's five permanent members -- the United States, Britain, China, France and Russia -- plus Germany, known as P5+1, agreed to pursue their efforts to seek a diplomatic solution to the Iranian nuclear issue.

Following the meeting, a spokesperson of the European Union (EU) said that "necessary contacts will be made in the coming days" for new round of talks with Iran.

On Wednesday, head of Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI), Fereidoon Abbasi, said that the his country will "decisively" continue uranium enrichment, semi-official Mehr news agency reported.

"Despite the sanctions, it is more likely that we will have a considerable growth in the (operation of) centrifuge machines this year and we will continue (uranium) enrichment decisively," Abbasi was quoted as saying by the state IRIB TV.

Iran is under a number of unilateral Western sanctions on its oil and financial sectors over its controversial nuclear program.

On the day, Abbasi also said that Iran will test the Arak research reactor plant using "virtual fuel" in near future, said Mehr.

"I determinedly announce that the (work in) the Arak reactor plant is advancing according to the schedule and without any problem," he was quoted as saying by Mehr.

He denied delays in launching the plant due to some technical problems, saying that "We merely move ahead cautiously due to security considerations, since the enemy wants to cause damage in this reactor. We don't have any technical problems or budget problem."

"All the equipments which are needed for the preparation of the reactor have been purchased from the market," he went on.

According to earlier report of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Iran's IR-40 heavy water research reactor, near the central city of Arak, was scheduled to begin operation at the end of 2013.

However, the recent report by the IAEA said that the country had postponed the start-up of the reactor until 2014.

Western countries suspect that the Arak establishments or the uranium enrichment facilities of Iran might be used to produce material for the production of nuclear weapon, the allegations of which have been rejected by the Islamic republic.

About the operation of the country's Bushehr nuclear power plant, Abbasi said that "Currently, final tasks in Bushehr reactor are being carried out and the final tests before the Iranian operator to take over (the responsibility of) the reactor (from the Russians) have been conducted."

"All the problems (the reactor encountered) in the past year have been corrected," he said, adding that "Soon, the reactor will be connected to the (national) grid and we will witness stable electricity flow in the grid."

The semi-official ISNA news agency, quoting an informed source, reported on Wednesday that Iran has reloaded fuel in Bushehr nuclear power plant after a temporary removal of it.

On Nov. 16, the IAEA said in a report that Iran unloaded fuel from the reactor core of Bushehr power plant in October and transferred it to a spent fuel pond.

Fuel was reloaded on Monday in the presence of the representative of the IAEA, said the informed source according to ISNA.

On Wednesday, Iran's atomic chief emphasized that the IAEA investigators are continuously supervising Iran's nuclear facilities and all of Iran's nuclear establishments are "safe," said IRIB.

So far, no spacial accident which may harm the people has taken place in Iran's nuclear establishments, Abbasi was quoted as saying.

About Iran's imminent talks with the IAEA representatives in Tehran, he said that "As before, the IAEA representatives will come to Iran and will continue their previous talks with our representatives in order to reach a clear conclusion which could be acceptable for both sides," according to IRIB.

Earlier this month, an IAEA spokesperson announced that experts from the IAEA and Iran would meet on Dec. 13 in Tehran for a new round of talks on Iran's nuclear issue.

The IAEA hoped to reach an agreement with Iran that could allow inspectors to investigate possible military aspects of Iran's nuclear program, the reports said.

The most recent talks between the two parties were held in August without any agreement signed.

Print E-mail Bookmark and Share

Go to Forum >>0 Comment(s)

No comments.

Add your comments...

  • User Name Required
  • Your Comment
  • Enter the words you see:   
    Racist, abusive and off-topic comments may be removed by the moderator.
Send your storiesGet more from China.org.cnMobileRSSNewsletter