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Iran: Enrichment not part of talks
YOUR E-MAIL ALERTSTEHRAN, Iran (CNN) -- Iran will reject any European Union proposal to break the stalemate over its nuclear program that includes a suspension of uranium enrichment, Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said Monday. In a statement issued after talks with British, French and German diplomats, Mottaki said any EU proposal to halt Iran's production of nuclear fuel would be unacceptable. "Any request for suspension, temporarily or otherwise, of enrichment is illogical and unacceptable and will undoubtedly be rejected," Mottaki said, according to a foreign ministry statement. He said Tehran welcomes "any worthwhile and constructive" proposal. But any new offer from the three European Union members -- which have led talks over the nuclear issue for the past three years -- "must be based on realities and must be within a logical framework." Iran broke off previous talks with the EU in 2005. In April, it announced that it had produced enriched uranium on a laboratory scale and has ignored a call from the U.N. Security Council to stop that work. Enriched uranium can be used to fuel power plants or, in much higher concentrations, to produce a nuclear explosion. The United States accuses Iran of working toward nuclear weapons -- an allegation Tehran denies. Iran insists that it has a right under the 1968 Non-Proliferation Treaty to produce nuclear fuel. But the International Atomic Energy Agency, the U.N. nuclear watchdog, has called on Iranian officials to clear up unresolved questions about its intentions. "Any new European proposal must officially recognize Iran's nuclear rights," Mottaki said in his statement, which was carried by the Iranian news agency FARS. The Security Council is now debating a resolution, backed by the United States, Britain and France, that would give the demand the force of international law and open the door to possible sanctions if Iran continues to refuse. Russia and China, two of the council's veto-wielding permanent members, have said they oppose sanctions. In Brussels, Austrian Foreign Minister Ursula Plassnik said Monday that the European Union was prepared to offer Tehran political and economic incentives, as well as "proliferation-proof" nuclear technology, in exchange for its cooperation. "But we will also look at measures we may need to take if Iran should continue to reject these ideas and continue the present course," said Plassnik, whose country currently holds the EU's rotating presidency. Mottaki said Iran has "done its best" to cooperate with the IAEA and European negotiators. -- Journalist Shirzad Bozorgmehr contributed to this report Copyright 2006 CNN. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Associated Press contributed to this report. 
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