Iran optimistic nuke case to be solved - Khatami
(Agencies)
Updated: 2004-11-02 16:53

Iran's President Mohammad Khatami said on Tuesday he was optimistic talks with the European Union would yield a solution to the dispute over Tehran's nuclear programme that Washington says is a covert bid for atomic arms.

"If the EU accepts our right to produce nuclear technology for peaceful purposes, we are ready to assure the world and the EU that we will not pursue nuclear weapons," Khatami told reporters. "We can reach a solution, I am optimistic."

Iran says its nuclear ambitions do not go beyond a desire to produce electricity from atomic reactors. But its insistence that it wants to manufacture its own nuclear fuel to feed the reactors has raised concerns it could use the same facilities to produce atomic bombs.

The EU has given Iran an ultimatum to freeze all uranium enrichment activities before the end of this month or face being reported to the U.N. Security Council for possible sanctions.

Enriched uranium can be used as reactor fuel or, if enriched further, to make atom bombs.

The two sides are due to meet for a third round of talks on Friday to discuss an EU package of incentives for Iran in return for it agreeing to scrap uranium enrichment.

Khatami said Iran may be willing to freeze enrichment, but only on its own terms and only for a temporary period.

"If there is a suspension it will be voluntary. There should be no talk of cessation or obliging us to suspend," he said.

He added that Iran wanted a time limit to be imposed for a result to emerge from the EU discussions.

"Negotiations cannot be indefinite, we must define a timetable," he said.

Close