Iran Will Continue Its Nuclear Energy Program, Including Uranium Enrichment - 2003-09-28

Iran states that it will continue its nuclear energy program, including uranium enrichment. Iran also claims that contrary to international efforts to persuade global opinion, it does not use its nuclear facilities for the production of nuclear weapons. The spokesperson for the Iranian Foreign Ministry emphasized on Sunday, September 28, that the goal of establishing the country's nuclear power plants is not to produce nuclear weapons, and that international pressures will not prevent Iran from peacefully utilizing its nuclear energy production facilities. These comments from the Iranian government were made ahead of an official visit by representatives of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to the country, scheduled for late next week. The United Nations has given the Iranian government until the end of October to prove that it is not using its nuclear facilities for the development and production of nuclear weapons, otherwise it will face the possibility of global sanctions. IAEA inspectors have recently discovered signs of enriched uranium in two nuclear reactors. Enriched uranium is essential for the production of nuclear weapons. Officials in Tehran claim that the signs found regarding enriched uranium were imported to Iran along with related equipment and materials for the power plants. President Bush of the United States and President Putin of Russia have agreed that Iran should not be allowed to produce and develop nuclear weapons. Russia states that it will continue to assist the Iranian government in establishing nuclear power plants for electricity generation. Mr. Putin has stated that he will not cancel his $800 million contract for nuclear technology development but will exert necessary pressure on the Iranian government to cooperate fully with the IAEA. The leaders of the United States and Russia discussed the issue of nuclear weapons development and production in Iran and North Korea during their two-day meeting outside Washington, which concluded on Saturday, September 27.