IRAN: Iran's President Mohammad Khatami yesterday indicated that Tehran may halt uranium enrichment, which some Western governments say could be used to make atomic bombs, if it is allowed to keep its civilian atomic energy programme.
Asked by reporters if Iran was prepared to stop enriching uranium as the United States and several European countries have demanded, Mr Khatami said: "We will do whatever is necessary to solve the problems and, in return, we're expecting our rights to be preserved which is (the right) to have nuclear technology."
It was the first indication from a top Iranian official that Iran could abandon uranium-enrichment facilities which it began building in 1985. Iranian officials had previously insisted they had every right to continue enriching uranium to use in their nuclear power reactors.
Iran began formal talks on Saturday with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on tougher inspections of its nuclear sites, the official IRNA news agency said.
Mr Khatami said on Friday his country had no plans to build nuclear weapons and predicted that it would reach an agreement on its nuclear programme with the UN atomic watchdog.
UN inspectors found arms-grade enriched uranium at two Iranian facilities this year. Iran blames this on contamination from machinery it bought abroad.
Low grade enriched uranium is used as fuel in atomic reactors, but highly enriched uranium can be used to make atomic weapons, leading to fears that Iran may harbour secret intentions to use its facilities for military purposes.
Iranian officials have said that the foreign ministers of Britain, France and Germany will visit Tehran this week to discuss a proposal to resolve Iran's nuclear stand-off before a looming October 31 UN deadline for Tehran to prove it has no atomic arms ambitions.
The three countries wrote to Tehran a few weeks ago offering Iran the prospect of sharing technology if it stops its nuclear fuel enrichment programme and accepts tougher UN inspections.
Asked if Iran was prepared to accept those conditions, including halting uranium enrichment, Mr Khatami said: "We will do what is expedient for society and the nation. We have done our best for talks and exchanging views and we hope it will produce a result." - (Reuters)