Iran will continue its nuclear work "to the maximum scope"
within the non-proliferation regime, but will give a reply to an
international nuclear offer by Aug. 22 as announced, Iran's
ambassador to Russia said on Thursday.
Tehran views as "unlawful" the latest UN Security Council
resolution on Iran, which urges the country to stop uranium
enrichment by Aug. 31, Gholamreza Ansari said, quoted by the
Itar-Tass news agency.
"Therefore we don't recognize the demand that we suspend uranium
enrichment in view of absence of violations on our part," Ansari
said.
But Tehran will give an answer by Aug. 22 to the international
proposal on its nuclear program, he added.
To lure Tehran to the suspension of uranium enrichment, Britain,
China, France, Russia, the United States and Germany offered an
international package in mid-June offering incentives and
multilateral talks to Iran.
"Iran intends to continue work in the nuclear field to the
maximum scope in accordance with the nuclear Non-Proliferation
Treaty," Ansari said.
"We are resolved to continue our activity within the framework
of IAEA rules," the diplomat said, referring to the UN nuclear
watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency.
The United States accuses Iran of secretly developing nuclear
weapons under a civilian front, but Iran insists its nuclear
program is aimed at generating power to meet surging domestic
demand.
(Xinhua News Agency August 11, 2006)
