Iran will 'never shut down underground enrichment facilities'

0 Comment(s)Print E-mail Xinhua, February 18, 2013
Adjust font size:

Senior Iranian lawmaker, Alaeddin Boroujerdi, said Sunday the Islamic republic will never shut down its underground bunker of Fordow uranium enrichment facilities and will not halt its "peaceful" nuclear activities.

Alluding to recent media reports about world powers' decision to ease gold sanctions on Iran in exchange for the closure of Fordow, Boroujerdi, the head of Iran's Majlis' (parliament) National Security and Foreign Policy Commission, said that "Fordow site will never be shut down," the semi-official ISNA news agency reported.

Western media reported Saturday that the P5+1 (Britain, China, France, Russia, the United States plus Germany) are working on a proposal to be offered in the nuclear talks with Iran to ease sanctions on gold and other precious metals trade with Iran in return for shutting down Fordow uranium enrichment plant.

According to the reports, the offer will be presented in the upcoming talks between Iran and the P5+1 slated for Feb. 26 in Almaty, Kazakhstan.

Boroujerdi told ISNA that Iran has built the Fordow site to defend its nuclear facilities in the face threats from Israel.

The Fordow nuclear plant, located near the Iranian central Shiite holy city of Qom, is used for producing enriched uranium with a purity of up to 20 percent.

Also, Boroujerdi stressed Sunday that "If the Americans think that they can halt Iran's peaceful (nuclear) activities by mounting pressures, they are beating the air," local Press TV reported.

"Iran will continue developing its peaceful nuclear energy program based on the regulations of the (International Atomic Energy) Agency and within the framework of peaceful objectives," Boroujerdi was quoted as saying.

Meanwhile, Iran's Majlis Speaker Ali Larijani said U.S. officials are broadcasting "propaganda" through proposing direct talks with Iran over the country's nuclear program, Tehran Times daily reported Sunday.

On Feb. 2, U.S. Vice President Joe Biden said the United States is prepared to hold direct talks with Iran over the country's nuclear program when the Iranian leadership is "serious."

The U.S. proposal of direct talks with the Islamic republic is a "propaganda," said Larijani, adding that the United States is seeking to influence the Iranian people's determination by bringing up such issues.

Those who "fall in the trap" of believing such rhetoric may provide opportunities for the enemies, he added.

Also, Iranian lawmaker Ebrahim Aqa-Mohammadi said the United States must renounce its policy of "threats and sanctions" against Iran before Tehran considers entering talks with Washington, Press TV reported Sunday.

"The United States must give up its threats and sanctions and ( then) announce that it would hold negotiations with Iran under equal footing and based on international laws," Aqa-Mohammadi, a member of Iran's Majlis National Security and Foreign Policy Commission, was quoted as saying.

"If the United States is not willing to recognize Iran's right with regard to the nuclear energy issue and keeps its forces behind Iran's doors for an attack, the issue of negotiations does not make any sense," he added.

The United States and its Western allies suspect that Iran's uranium enrichment may be meant for moving closer to the ability to make nuclear weapons. However, Iran insists that its nuclear program is only for peaceful use.

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