Confusion over Iranian position on enrichment

President of Iran, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, used an address to mark the 28th anniversary of the Islamic revolution to assert Iran's right to a civilian nuclear energy programme. He appeared to reject the deadline set by the UN Security Council of 21 February to halt uranium enrichment.

He claimed that Iran had met its obligations under the Nuclear non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), had kept to the rules of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and had followed a completely "transparent" nuclear programme.

However, speaking at his weekly press briefing, Seyed Mohammad Ali Hosseini, Iran's Foreign Ministry Spokesman, said the topic of suspension of Iran's uranium enrichment programme could form part of discussions to resolve the issue and that Iran would continue to cooperate with the IAEA.

Ahmadinejad's statements come a few days after a report emerged that showed that the IAEA has halted or restricted 22 of its 55 technical aid projects in Iran.

The scale of IAEA involvement in Iran has caused disagreement amongst some countries within the IAEA's 35-nation board.

Ali Larijani, the secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council and leading nuclear negotiator, said that Iran is prepared to settle all outstanding issues with the IAEA within three weeks. Larijani was speaking at the 43rd Munich Conference on Security Policy.

The IAEA has said that it has found no evidence that Iran is trying to build nuclear weapons, though it has been critical of the concealment of some nuclear activities over nearly two decades and the failure to answer questions about the programme. Speaking to the Spiegel newspaper, IAEA director general Mohamed ElBaradei said that no one was questioning the right of Iran to enrich uranium under the terms of the Nuclear non-Proliferation Treaty. However, Iran should put its program on hold until it gave full access to IAEA officials for verification.

The Iranian enrichment program is separate from an agreement with Russia to construct and fuel unit 1 at Bushehr, a VVER-1000 pressurized water reactor due to start up in late 2007. All fuel for the life of this reactor will be supplied from Russia, and it is intended that used fuel will be returned there, obviating the need for any fuel cycle facilities in Iran. All work has been under IAEA safeguards and operation is also intended to be under safeguards.

Further information

International Atomic Energy Agency

WNA's Iraq, North Korea & Iran - Implications for Safeguards information paper