Iranian IAEA Rep Soltaniya: Iran Has No Alternative But To Enrich Uranium

Iranian representative to the International Atomic Energy Agency Ali Asghar Soltanieh said yesterday that talks between Iran and IAEA on guaranteeing fuel recycle [sic] have failed, and thus that Iran had no alternative but to continue its independent uranium enrichment and to generate a fuel cycle.

Soltaniya made the remarks in a meeting hosted by the European Security Institute (ESI) in Vienna yesterday.

He said that Iran would continue to enrich uranium while there is no legally-binding international assurance of a nuclear fuel supply, and added that the West has not remained committed to its pledges in the past, that Iran should continue with uranium enrichment, and that there is no technical or legal justification to halt it.

In a different report, dated today, the London daily Al-Sharq Al-Awsat stated that Soltaniya had said that Iran would be willing to study a proposal under which Iran would stop enriching uranium if it received guarantees for a supply of nuclear fuel.

Sources: Al-Sharq Al-Awsat, London, October 3, 2008; IRNA, Iran, October 2, 2008

Kuwaiti Daily Reveals: Iran Building Secret Nuclear Reactor, Special Dispatch Series - No. 2006 - Iran - July 29, 2008

Investigation by Egyptian Daily Al-Ahram Finds Iranian Involvement, Shi'ization in Comoros Islands, Special Dispatch Series - No. 2004 - Iran - July 28, 2008

Iranian Threats in Anticipation of Western Attack , Inquiry and Analysis Series - No. 455 - Iran - July 15, 2008

Ayatollah Emami-Kashani in Tehran Friday Sermon: "Oh Liar Israel! Oh Liar White House! If You Wish To Attack Iran, We Will Give You a Response That Will Make You Regretful", Special Dispatch Series - No. 1982 - Iran - July 11, 2008

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