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Iran Won't Budge on Uranium

Negotiator bound for EU talks puts enrichment off-limits

By Sam Gale Rosen, Newser Staff

Posted May 30, 2007 11:51 AM CDT

(Newser) – Iran won't stop enriching uranium, its chief nuclear negotiator said today, hours before scheduled talks with the EU. Tomorrow's meeting will focus on Iran's nuclear program, seen as an increasing threat after recent inspections indicated the country is moving closer to nuclear capability. Monday's US-Iran negotiations on Iraq have no bearing on tomorrow's sit-down, Ali Larijani says.

The UN imposed sanctions on Iran in December for ignoring its demands to cease uranium enrichment. Previous efforts to get Iran to suspend its atomic program, which the country insists is used for electricity, have failed. Larijani foresees little wiggle room: "If Iran is supposed to suspend its nuclear activities, there will be no issue for talks,'' he says.

Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki, attends a conference on security in the Persian Gulf in Tehran, on Monday, May 28, 2007. Iran on Monday said it was ready to transfer peaceful nuclear know-how... (Associated Press)

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad Announces Scaling-Up Of Nuclear Enrichment Programme (Getty Images)

Iran's top nuclear envoy Ali Larijani, speaks to the media after a meeting with Javier Solana, the European Union's senior Foreign Policy official and Turkey's Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul, both unseen,... (Associated Press)

Iran's top nuclear envoy Ali Larijani, right, speaks to the media after a meeting with Javier Solana, the European Union's senior Foreign Policy official, unseen, and Turkey's Foreign Minister Abdullah... (Associated Press)

Senior Iranian envoy Ali Larijani talks to the media after meeting top Shiite cleric Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, in Najaf, 160 kilometers (100 miles) south of Baghdad, Iraq, Tuesday, May 1, 2007.... (Associated Press)

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad delivers his speech during an open session of parliament for impeachment of his education minister Mahmoud Farshidi, in Tehran, Iran, Wednesday, May 16, 2007. Opponents... (Associated Press)

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Iran Won't Budge on Uranium

Negotiator bound for EU talks puts enrichment off-limits

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Ahmadinejad Upbeat Despite Sanction Threats

Deadlocked nuke talks a 'step forward,' insists Iranian prez

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Brown also promises more troops for Afghan fight as Bush departs Europe

EU Experts Say Iran Closer to Nuke Weapon

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Iran Won't Budge on Uranium

Negotiator bound for EU talks puts enrichment off-limits

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OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

Iran • Ali Larijani • European Union • sanctions • Javier Solana • nuclear • nuclear program • uranium enrichment • uranium

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

[ By Comments ]

More Newser Stories

Ahmadinejad Backs Nuke Deal—in Some Form

But Iran won't retreat 'even an iota' on right to program

Iran Wants to Change Uranium Deal

But Tehran proposal would make the agreement pointless

Ahmadinejad Upbeat Despite Sanction Threats

Deadlocked nuke talks a 'step forward,' insists Iranian prez

Britain Rolls Out New Iran Sanctions

Brown also promises more troops for Afghan fight as Bush departs Europe

EU Experts Say Iran Closer to Nuke Weapon

Tehran a year away on uranium; separate UN report out today

About Us

Site

Newser By Users

Community

Site Maps

Tools

More News

What is Newser?