Iran ready to export nuclear fuel: foreign minister
February 14th, 2004
ABC Online, Australia
Iranian Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi says the Islamic Republic is ready to sell nuclear fuel to international buyers.
Iran, which is accused by Washington of secretly developing nuclear arms, has rejected the US claims and insists it will enrich uranium only to the level needed to fuel power stations and not to higher, weapons-grade purity.
"The Islamic Republic of Iran, as a country that has the potential to produce nuclear fuel, is ready to offer (that) fuel to international markets," Mr Kharrazi told the official IRNA news agency at a Tehran airport after a trip to Italy and the Vatican.
Britain, France and Germany last year persuaded Iran to suspend uranium enrichment and accept snap inspections by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), a United Nations watchdog.
Iran insists its suspension of uranium enrichment is a temporary goodwill gesture.
Diplomats report Iranian failure to suspend all enrichment-related activities has annoyed France and Britain.
Washington this week upped pressure on Tehran after the IAEA discovered undeclared drawings of centrifuges that can be used to make bomb-grade material.
The US said on Friday it would give Iran more time to disclose its nuclear programs before deciding whether to refer the issue to the UN Security Council, which could impose sanctions.
Western diplomats in Vienna said the drawings showed Tehran had not complied with a demand from the IAEA governing board that it provide a full and truthful account of its entire nuclear program.
Mr Kharrazi pledged Iranian cooperation with the UN nuclear watchdog.
"The United States is following its own agenda as it did before and intends to put the agency and its governing council under new pressure," he said.
The IAEA board meets again on March 8.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/s1045140.htmBush's speech this week is even more important in light of this article.