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Kharrazi says production of nuclear fuel is `strictly peaceful`

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Tehran, Feb 15, IRNA -- Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi hailed Sunday 
production of nuclear fuel by Iran as an `important achievement` but 
stressed that it was `strictly` intended for peaceful purposes. 
"This industry is strictly not for non-peaceful use and will be 
under the careful supervision of the International Atomic Energy 
Agency," he told reporters here on his return from a Kuwait summit. 
The statements came shortly after Kharrazi announced that Iran has
the capacity to produce nuclear fuel and offer it to international 
markets. 
"The Islamic Republic of Iran has made an important achievement in
the area of nuclear fuel -- that is the technology of enrichment for 
meeting fuel requirements of domestic plants as well as for peaceful 
usage," Kharrazi said. 
"This is an industry which can both be used by our plants and 
supplied to the international markets," he added. 
The Iranian foreign minister also said, "We have taken a voluntary
decision for confidence building and postponed (uranium) enrichment, 
but this does not mean that we will give up this industry, which is 
our national pride." 
Kharrazi, however, stressed Tehran`s intention to `act within the 
frameworks which are discussed with the International Atomic Energy 
Agency (IAEA) so that its supervision is fulfilled`. 
"At present, this idea has been floated in (IAEA chief) Mr. 
Mohamed ElBaradei`s remarks and plans to create an international 
framework so that those countries which have the capacity (to produce)
nuclear fuel offer it to international markets," he said. 
"The Islamic Republic of Iran has also this capacity and regards 
it as legitimate. There in no legal problem about that and no one can 
deprive us of this natural, legal and legitimate right. 
"This indicates the Islamic Republic`s capacity and readiness for 
cooperation within the international frameworks," Kharrazi added. 
The Iranian foreign minister dismissed US officials` statements 
including their intention to renew Washington`s drive to report Tehran
to the UN Security Council. 
"Americans want to influence the upcoming IAEA meeting, but we are
ready to cooperate transparently and answer all questions and while 
the supervision are carried out carefully, there is no need for 
worries," he said. 
State Department spokesman Richard Boucher on Friday repeated 
Washington`s accusations that Iran continued to pursue nuclear 
weapons. 
Tehran says its nuclear efforts are in accordance with the 
country`s bid to produce 7,000 megawatts of electricity in the next 20
years, when the country`s oil and gas reserves become overstretched. 
The Islamic Republic voluntarily suspended uranium enrichment 
following the visit of British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw and his 
French and German counterparts Dominique de Villepin and Joschka 
Fischer to Tehran, which also led Iran agreeing to sign an additional 
protocol to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty late last year. 
BH/AH/210 
End