Iranian nuclear negotiator rejects IAEA proposal on uranium transfer+

TOKYO, Dec. 22 Kyodo -
Visiting Iranian nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili said Monday that Iran cannot
accept a U.N.-brokered proposal to transfer the bulk of its low-enriched
uranium out of Iran with the aim of converting it into fuel for use in the
country's medical research reactor amid political pressure from the United
States and European countries.
''As long as a political touch is added to a business deal, we cannot accept
it. In addition, strong pressure is being imposed,'' Jalili, the country's top
nuclear negotiator, told Kyodo News during an interview in Tokyo. Rejection of
the proposal may lead to further sanctions on the country.
Jalili, who is secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, also
indicated that the amount of uranium that the U.N. nuclear watchdog has
proposed to transfer is too large and that Iran wants the fuel to be provided
''at the same time'' the uranium is transferred out of Iran.
The proposal by the International Atomic Energy Agency requires Iran to ship
out 1.2 tons of its low-enriched uranium, which is believed to be an amount
potentially capable of creating one nuclear bomb.
But at the same time, he said Iran will ''submit to negotiations'' if its
argument is accepted.
Earlier in the day, Japanese Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada expressed his
''strong concerns'' to Jalili over the current situation regarding Iran's
nuclear program and said that ''it is extremely regrettable that a dispute''
has erupted over the IAEA's proposal, a Japanese Foreign Ministry official
said.
Jalili stressed to Okada that Iran has accepted inspections by the IAEA and no
evidence has emerged that the country's nuclear program is being used for
military purposes, according to the official.
At a press conference held later at the Foreign Correspondents' Club of Japan,
Jalili said that ''using nuclear energy is the right of every nation'' and that
any deviation from peaceful use of nuclear power is ''not acceptable for
anyone.''
He underscored that Iran has simply been exercising its right as a member of
the IAEA and the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and that it is fulfilling its
commitments and obligations as a member.
As Jalili is planning to visit the western Japanese city of Hiroshima, which
suffered an atomic bombing during World War II, Okada also said during his
talks with Jalili, ''I hope you will see how a nuclear weapon can bring about a
tragic outcome.''
Jalili's visit to Japan from Sunday to Thursday comes amid a tense standoff
over Iran's nuclear program.
The United States, which suspects that Iran is seeking to build nuclear
weapons, reaffirmed earlier this month that Iran has until the end of the year
to accept the international agreement for its uranium enrichment program before
the United States and its allies consider taking further action against the
already heavily sanctioned nation.
In terms of bilateral relations with Japan, Jalili told the press conference,
''I had very good talks with the foreign minister'' and ''cooperation between
the two countries can have very good effects at the regional and international
levels.''
''We have a good potential to expand such a relationship,'' he said, stressing
that international relations must be based on ''peace, prosperity, and
justice'' as well as ''mutual respect.''
==Kyodo
2009-12-22 00:37:58