Tehran, Oct 07: Iran's Foreign Minister has reiterated his government's refusal to stop enriching uranium, despite an International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) resolution demanding a halt to the process, the state news agency IRNA reported. But Kamal Kharazi, quoted by the agency overnight on Monday, also asserted that despite the disagreements with the Vienna-based UN watchdog there was no question of the Islamic republic pulling out of the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).

"We will not allow anyone to deprive us of our right to use nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, and in particular of our right to enrich fuel for our power stations," Kharazi was quoted as saying.

Kharazi said that Iran was "very determined" to defend such a right.
"We are currently negotiating with the IAEA so that our rights are not held up for ridicule and so that nobody infringes our country's prestige," he said, amid a crucial visit to Iran by a team of IAEA inspectors.


"We have nothing to fear from inspections. When one has nothing to hide, one has no reason to worry," he added, asserting that "we are committed to the NPT and leaving it is not a question."

Pushed by the United States, the IAEA on September 12 gave Iran until the end of this month to guarantee it is not developing and will not develop nuclear weapons.
Bureau Report