Iran rejects EU request to delay nuclear proposals

Swiss Info:

Saturday 30.07.2005, CET 20:06

TEHRAN (Reuters) - Iran on Saturday rejected a European Union request to delay submitting EU proposals to solve a dispute over the Islamic Republic's nuclear programme, a spokesman for the Supreme National Security Council said.

The European Union, represented by Britain, France and Germany, were due to offer Iran a limited package of nuclear, economic and political incentives to give up work the United States suspects is a veil for efforts to build a nuclear bomb.In return, the EU wanted Iran to agree to maintain indefinitely its suspension of uranium enrichment, nuclear fuel reprocessing and related activities.

The Iranian spokesman said ambassadors for the so-called EU Three had asked for the August 1 deadline for their proposals to be extended till August 7.

"We reject any delay. We are expecting their proposals to be submitted on August 1 and it should meet Iran's minimum expectations," council spokesman and nuclear negotiator, Ali Aghamohammadi, told Reuters.

He said the EU Three had asked to discuss the proposals in meetings in Paris on August 31 and in New York in September."It means the proposal regarding Iran's nuclear programme practically will be postponed for an unlimited time," said Aghamohammadi. "That means this proposal does not meet Iran's minimum expectations."

Iran regards nuclear fuel cycle activities as a right under the Non-Proliferation Treaty and wants to be allowed to keep at least a pilot enrichment programme.

The EU Three have threatened to back U.S. demands to report Iran to the United Nations Security Council for possible sanctions if it ends its voluntary suspension of enrichment-related activity.