Tehran rejects ’unbalanced’ European demands over nuclear standoff

Iran on Sunday rejected European demands that it halt all uranium enrichment activities and described a proposal aimed at ending Tehran’s nuclear standoff with the international community as "unbalanced."

"The European proposal is their preliminary proposition and is not definitive but it is unbalanced," said Foreign Ministry spokesman Hamid Reza Asefi.

Iran is also refusing to suspend indefinitely work on enriching uranium, part of the nuclear fuel cycle, as called for in the deal offered to Tehran last week by Europe’s "big three" of Britain, France and Germany, he added.

"In their proposal, the Europeans sought the suspension of enrichment until a comprehensive deal is reached. During the negotiations there is no question of an unlimited suspension," he told reporters.

Nevertheless, Asefi said, the decision to engage in negotiations with the Europeans was the right one, adding: "Today we are on the right path."

The three European states presented Iran with a deal Thursday, aimed at avoiding possible UN sanctions. Under the deal Tehran would receive valuable nuclear technology if it indefinitely suspended all uranium enrichment activities.

The proposal was seen as a last chance for Iran before the UN’s nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), decides on Nov. 25 if Iran is cooperating with the international community.

The United States wants the IAEA to refer Tehran to the UN Security Council, which could impose sanctions.

Tehran has long insisted it is seeking only to generate electricity and on its right to produce enriched uranium, which makes fuel for civilian reactors but which can also manufacture material for atomic bombs.

Former UN weapons inspector Hans Blix on Sunday urged Western nations to offer concessions to Iran if they want the government there to scrap uranium enrichment.

Iran has every right to conduct an enrichment program, Blix said in an interview with German broadcaster ARD, adding that concessions to persuade Tehran to abandon enrichment might also include improved trade relations or a nonaggression pact.

If Western nations asked Iran to abandon enrichment, Blix said, "then you are asking them to give something up they have a right to be doing. Then you have to accept that they will make demands."

Blix warned against airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities, saying no nuclear weapons were being developed there.

Iran had probably moved any highly enriched uranium, suitable for use in weapons, to other storage sites elsewhere in the country, he said, adding: "I am not sure if we know the location of all the sites."

U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell said Saturday that Washington had seen no sign Iran will comply with international demands and that the U.S. will push next month for the matter to be sent to the Security Council unless Tehran reverses its course.

Hossein Moussavian, a spokesman for the Iranian nuclear negotiating team, also told state television on Sunday that uranium enrichment would continue, saying: "We are not going to count on the Europeans for fuel and we will continue on our path to be independent in this matter."

Iran’s news agency IRNA said on Saturday that talks between Iran and the Europeans would continue next Wednesday.

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