Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty,
Iran today reiterated that it will not suspend uranium enrichment, ruling out the main demand in a nuclear proposal backed by six world powers.
Iran said it would formally respond by August 22 to an offer made by the United States, Russia, China, France, Britain, and Germany. The six have offered incentives for Iran to suspend enrichment, a process that can have both military and civilian uses.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Hamid Reza Assefi said in Tehran outstanding issues should be decided by negotiations. He added, however, that “uranium enrichment is not on our agenda.”
The UN Security Council already passed a resolution demanding Iran suspend enrichment by August 31, or face possible sanctions.
The Iranian Foreign Ministry also said today UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan will visit Tehran in the coming weeks, presumably to discuss the nuclear issue.
