Iran Refuses to Abandon Uranium Enrichment (moved from ATSNN), page 1

Hamid Reza Asefi from the Iranium Foreign Ministry has said that Iran will not abandon its Uranium Enrichment and never renounce the right to carry out the process. Currently a suspension of the process is in place while talks and negotiations take place regarding Irans nuclear program with the Europeon Union. Iran has denied reports of purchasing 12 Cruise Missiles from the Ukraine after that country's prosecutor general was quoted in the Financial Times as saying that China and Iran had 18 X-55 cruise missiles exported to them without the nuclear warheads they are designed to hold.

www.abc.net.au
"Iran's uranium enrichment suspension is only for a short period of time," Mr Asefi said.

"It will be until reaching an agreement with the EU."

Officials from Britain, France, Germany and Iran are to meet later this month to continue the talks.

"We hope to reach a clear solution at the next meeting on April 19," Mr Asefi said.

He denied reports of Iran purchasing 12 cruise missiles from Ukraine.

"The government, the foreign and other ministries have not made such a deal with Ukraine," Mr Asefi said.

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Iran has said its atomic ambitions are peaceful but the europeon union has said that if Iran continue Uranium Enrichment that they will support the U.S plan to refer the Iranians to the United Nations Security Council which could bring about econimic sanctions upon the country.

Mr Asefi has said that while they will not abandon the program, they are hopeful of a good outcome from the talks with the Europeon Union.

[edit on 10-4-2005 by Mayet]