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TEHRAN, May 14 (Xinhuanet) -- A top Iranian nuclear
negotiator said Saturday in Vienna that Iran would definitely resume some
uranium enrichment activities, urging the European Union (EU) to "abandon
threats," the official IRNA news agency reported.
"Iran's decision regarding resumption of Isfahan
facility's activities is definite," Sirous Nasseri, head of the Iranian nuclear
negotiating team, was quoted as saying in an exclusive interview.
"The activities of this facility can not remain
suspended further since it has the least sensitivity in terms of the nuclear
fuel cycle and therefore it must not be the cause of any concern and threat for
the Europeans," the negotiator said.
Nasseri referred to the uranium conversion facility
near the central city Isfahan, in which uranium ore concentrate, known as
"yellowcake," is converted into uranium gas in preparation for enrichment.
Enriched uranium can be used for generating
electricity as well as building nuclear weapons.
Nasseri's remarks came after the Europeans warned
Iran of "serious consequences" and British Prime Minister Tony Blair elaborated
the message as possible referral of Iran's case to the UN Security Council if
Tehran resumes the declared activities.
Nasseri, dismissing the EU warning, said that the
country had delayed the resumption only "for several days."
"The Europeans, and better than all Mr. Blair, well
know that any threats on the part of Europe, leading to a confrontation with
Iran, will be a big strategic blunder for Europe," Nasseri said, stressing that
the confrontation would hurt the Europeans the most.
"Our final advice to the Europeans is that they put
aside the language of threat since this will benefit them in the first place,"
Nasseri added.
Nasseri arrived in Vienna on Wednesday on a reported
mission of submitting a letter to the International Atomic Energy Agency, in
which Tehran officially informed the agency of the resumption.
Iran, currently in talks with the EU on its nuclear
issue, has blamed the EU for the prolonged negotiations and threatened to resume
part of uranium enrichment activities, which it suspended last November to build
international confidence.
Washington and the EU have both warned Iran against
the sensitive move.
The United States has accused Iran of developing
nuclear weapons, but Iran rejected the charge as politically motivated.
Tehran insists that its nuclear program is for
peaceful purposesand it will never give up its rights for nuclear energy.
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