Iran seeks foreign partners for enriching uranium

The Peninsula:

Web posted at: 11/6/2005

TEHRAN: Iran is launching a bill to bring foreign partners into its uranium enrichment programme, state radio said.

Iran risks referral to the UN Security Council after failing to convince the world its atomic ambitions are limited to the peaceful generation of electricity. Washington says it suspects Iran of seeking nuclear bombs.

“The cabinet has approved international co-operation for uranium enrichment in Natanz,” state radio reported. Natanz is the underground facility in central Iran where the Islamic Republic plans to enrich its uranium — the most sensitive part of the nuclear fuel cycle.

If enriched to a low level, uranium can be used in reactors but much of the international community fears Iran wants to enrich it further, to weapons-grade. “The Iranian Atomic Energy Organisation is permitted to use the co-operation of companies other than those affiliated to the Iranian government for uranium enrichment,” the radio report added.