. Military Space News .
Iran Will Not Give Up Uranium Enrichment Programme Says Larijani

"Comparing Iran and Iraq is an error, because Iran is not an easy target. You should not pay attention to such rude comments by Israeli officials," Larijani told reporters.

Tehran (AFP) Dec 05, 2005
Iran's top nuclear negotiator reiterated Monday that Tehran would not give up its nuclear fuel ambitions, dismissing a proposal for the Islamic republic to conduct sensitive enrichment work abroad.

Ali Larijani nevertheless said Iran would give a chance for negotiations ease suspicions of a nuclear weapons drive before ending a freeze on uranium enrichment -- which makes reactor fuel but can be extended to military purposes.

"Very certainly, enrichment will take place in Iran, but for confidence building we decided on negotiations," Larijani, secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, told a news conference.

Britain, France and Germany -- backed by the United States -- argue that the only guarantee Iran will not use its atomic energy drive as a means to acquire the bomb is for the country to totally abandon uranium enrichment activities.

The EU-3 and Iran are expected to meet in the coming weeks, with the Europeans set to press forward a proposal from Moscow under which Iran's uranium would be enriched only on Russian soil.

If Iran refuses, the issue could be referred to the UN Security Council.

But Larijani said enrichment "is not something that a country invests in and then transfers it.

"We don't see the need for such a thing. What can be done in a few years we can do right now. It is not proper and not politically reasonable," he said, renewing his objection to Moscow's suggestion.

He did not say when Iran could resume the ultra-sensitive work, but added that "we prefer to have a result on enrichment through negotiations, and then start it" and said talks should not last more than "several months".

He also said that in the coming months Iran would issue an international tender for the construction of two nuclear power stations, as part of its ambition to build 20 power stations over the next 20 years to produce 20 megawatts of electricity.

And arch-enemy Israel, he warned, would face "heavy consequences" if it decided to attack.

Former Israeli premier Benjamin Netanyahu was quoted as saying Monday that Israel needed to "act in the spirit" of the late premier Menachem Begin who ordered an air strike on Iraq's Osirak nuclear reactor in 1981.

But Larijani said Iran, which maintains its nuclear programme is peaceful, was not afraid of an attack.

"Comparing Iran and Iraq is an error, because Iran is not an easy target. You should not pay attention to such rude comments by Israeli officials," he told reporters.

Iran's foreign ministry spokesman Hamid Reza Asefi also said Iran's response to such an attack would be "devastating and unbearable".

Source: Agence France-Presse

related report
Iran To Build Nuclear Power Plant With 'Domestic Technology'
Tehran (AFP) Dec 05 - Iran's government has given the go-ahead for the construction of a nuclear power plant in the southwestern province of Khuzestan using "domestic technology", Iranian media said Monday.

The official IRNA news agency said the plan was approved during a cabinet meeting headed by hardline President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Absolutely no further details were given.

Iran has already announced plans to build 20 nuclear power plants to produce 1,000 megawatts of electricity within the next 20 years, and officials have said they would soon open an international tender for two of them.

Iran insists it needs nuclear energy to meet the increased energy needs of a booming population, and boost its oil and gas export by reducing domestic fossil fuel consumption.

Iran's first nuclear plant is currently under construction near the southern city of Bushehr. Iran is dependent on Russia for plant construction and fuel.

Source: Agence France-Presse

Related Links
SpaceDaily
Search SpaceDaily
Subscribe To SpaceDaily Express

Pyongyang Demands US Troop Pullout From South Korea
Seoul (AFP) Dec 05, 2005
North Korea on Sunday demanded the United States withdraw its troops from South Korea, in a renewed campaign by the Stalinist state to drive a wedge in the US-South Korean alliance.







  • US, China To Hold Second Round Of Strategic Dialogue In December
  • India And China Must Avoid Mutual Paranoia: Singapore's Lee Kuan Yew
  • All Is Not Well In Sino-US Ties: Analysts
  • Analysis: American Dynastic Diplomacy

  • Pyongyang Demands US Troop Pullout From South Korea
  • US And North Korea Must Settle Sanctions Dispute Says South Korea
  • Iran Will Not Give Up Uranium Enrichment Programme Says Larijani
  • Iran Warns Israel After Netanyahu Attack Threat

  • India Successfully Tests Surface To Air Missile
  • Alcoa To Produce Aluminum Castings For Tactical Tomahawk Missile Program
  • Raytheon Delivers 2000th Joint Standoff Weapon
  • India Successfully Test Fires Supersonic Cruise Missile

  • Russia Developing New Generation Of Super Missiles
  • Israel Test Fires Anti Missile Missile
  • Russia To Test Fire New Submarine Based Ballistic Missile
  • Raytheon's Radar Performs Successfully In THAAD Flight Test

  • IAI To Supply Virtual Mission Training System For T6B Aircraft
  • China Negotiating Major Airbus Purchase Source
  • AirAsia To Dramatically Expand On Wings Of New Airbus Planes
  • NGC's E-10A Multi-Sensor Command-And-Control Aircraft Program Concludes Platform Design Review

  • Boeing A160 Hummingbird Completes Flight Test
  • Raytheon Awarded Global Hawk Ground Segments Contract
  • L-3's Link Simulation And Training Division To Build Predator Training Systems
  • Geneva Aerospace Extends Its Flight Technologies To Ultra-Light Glider

  • Bush On Iraq Strategy
  • Rate Of Casualties On US Troops Drops
  • UK Iraq Pullout Likely To Begin 2006 Says John Reid
  • What Will Define Victory In Iraq

  • Russia Acts On Decaying Chemical Arms Dumps
  • NGC Recognized For World Class Composite To Steel Manufacturing On DDX
  • NGC Awarded ManTech Award For Accomplishments On DDX Destroyer
  • Metal Storm Gains Extra Funding For Remote Weapon System

  • The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2006 - SpaceDaily.AFP and UPI Wire Stories are copyright Agence France-Presse and United Press International. ESA PortalReports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additionalcopyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement,agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by SpaceDaily on any Web page published or hosted by SpaceDaily. Privacy Statement