Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (R) speaks with International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) chief Mohamed ElBaradei (L) on October 4, 2009 in Tehran, Iran. UPI/Maryam Rahmanian |
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VIENNA, Oct. 19 (UPI) -- Iran backed away from previous nuclear commitments and swore to continue enriching uranium if international negotiations don't end to its officials' satisfaction.
With talks set to be begin in Austria among Iranian, U.S., French, Russian and U.N. officials on Iran's nuclear program, Tehran nuclear program spokesman Ali Shirzadian said Monday if the talks "don't bring the desired result," Iran would continue to enrich uranium. He was quoted by the official IRNA news agency.
Iran says its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes but some other countries have the opinion Tehran plans to use the program to develop nuclear weapons.
There has been a plan, reached Oct. 1, for Iran to send its nuclear material to France or Russia for further processing and then returned to Iran. Tehran seems to be backing from that agreement.
Western countries are seeking additional economic sanctions against Iran if it doesn't allow international inspectors to watch over its nuclear program. It was recently disclosed Tehran was operating a secret nuclear facility, which led to the call for tougher sanctions. Russia said it was "too early" to consider such sanctions.
