Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty,
Iran's chief nuclear negotiator, Ali Larijani, has said his country is determined to produce its own nuclear fuel.
Larijani, the head of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, said today that production of nuclear fuel is one of Iran's strategic objectives.
Iran, which denies any effort to make nuclear weapons, faces possible UN sanctions if it fails to halt uranium-enrichment work by the end of this month, as demanded by the Security Council.
Meanwhile, the White House says it is continuing to consult with its international partners on the next steps regarding Iran.
A statement from spokeswoman Dana Perino said the United States and its partners on the UN Security Council — Russia, France, Britain, and China — along with Germany, all share the goal of preventing Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapons capability.
However it did not directly address the inauguration in Iran on August 26 of a heavy-water-production plant that could be used in the future for plutonium production.
Also today, Iran announced that it successfully test-fired a long-range missile from a submarine, as part of ongoing military exercises. Navy commander General Sajjad Kouchaki told state television that the missile hit its intended target.
Iran launched large-scale, open-ended military exercises last week.
