Iran sticks to its guns on uranium enrichment

KABUL (Pajhwok): Iran does not seek permission from anyone to enrich uranium, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, asking the US to avoid making false claims.

The top Iranian cleric poured scorn on US representatives’ assertion that they would not let Iran enrich uranium. He made clear that Iran was not awaiting permission from any party.

IRNA quoted Khamenei as saying the Islamic republic followed its own policies and the Iranians would be informed about reasons for efforts to stop Iran’s uranium enrichment.

He told a ceremony in Tehran on Tuesday indirect nuclear negotiations with the US had yielded no result. He did not expect any positive outcome.

While sticking to his stance on Iran’s nuclear programme, he insisted Iran had not been brought to the negotiating table by threats, bribery or deception.

Also on Tuesday, Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said Iran’s right to uranium enrichment was non-negotiable. He rejected US demands as “unreasonable and illogical”.

“What we are witnessing now are entirely unreasonable and illogical stances adopted by the Americans, which have been publicly expressed in recent days,” the minister remarked.

PAN Monitor/mud