Iran to enrich fuel, consider Russia offer

TEHRAN, Nov. 27 (UPI) -- Iran insists it has the right to enrich uranium for nuclear energy though is open to a Russian offer if the U.N. Security Council retreats from sanctions.

Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Mohammed Ali Hosseini reiterated Sunday the international debate over Iran's nuclear ambitions is one of national sovereignty, Itar-Tass reports.

"Iran's principled position is that uranium enrichment should be made in the Iranian territory," he said.

Tehran insists the uranium enrichment is needed for the country to be self-sufficient when a nuclear reactor comes online next year. Currently Russia is to deliver the fuel to the Bushehr plant, which Russia is also building.

A U.S.-led group of nations has pressed the Security Council to sanction Iran for what it alleges is a nuclear program bent on creating weapons, which Iran denies.

There is no actual proof Iran is creating weapons, but the International Atomic Energy Agency, the U.N. nuclear watchdog, has handed over its file to the Security Council, escalating tensions that have worsened since the secret enrichment and heavy water reactor part of Iran's nuclear program was revealed by a dissident in 2002.

Uranium enrichment is a process for making both fuel for nuclear energy and for nuclear weapons material.

Iran is a signatory of the nuclear nonproliferation treaty and said it will continue to abide by those mandates.

"Tehran is ready to continue cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency on the grounds of its obligations within the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty," said Hosseini. He echoed a Russian official who last week said the IAEA, not the Security Council, was the best venue for debating and enforcing Iran's international nuclear compliance.

Russia had earlier this year offered to enrich all the uranium Iran needed as long as it could reclaim it after it was used, but Tehran refused.

Hosseini now says Iran is willing to further discuss the offer.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, however, said recently Iran will be able to enrich enough uranium to fuel its nuclear needs within four years.