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Kharrazi: IAEA informed of Iran`s research on centrifuges

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Tehran, Feb 17, IRNA -- Iran stressed on Tuesday that the 
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) was informed of the 
country`s research on uranium-enrichment centrifuges. 
Speaking to reporters on the fringes of a forum on the Persian 
Gulf, Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi also described reports about 
Iran`s designs for centrifuges as `ballyhoo and propaganda against 
the Islamic Republic`. 
"Claims that Iran has built centrifuges are wrong," he said, 
adding `Iran is only engaged in research activities on P2 
centrifuges`. 
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) was reported as 
having allegedly uncovered designs in Iran for uranium-enrichment 
centrifuges. 
Kharrazi said the report was only hue and cry against Tehran 
before a planned meeting of IAEA Board of Governors in March. 
"Iran is only engaged in research activity in this regard and the 
International Atomic Energy Agency is informed of that," he said. 
The Iranian foreign minister also clarified himself after he 
said recently that Tehran had the capacity to supply nuclear fuel 
to the international markets. 
"Some people have imagined that Iran has nuclear fuel ready (for 
supply). 
"Iran has the necessary potential and capacity in this field, 
which is a legitimate right of our country and my statements were in 
reaction to US President George Bush`s remarks that only certain 
countries had the right to produce nuclear technology," he said. 
"Iran can meet its nuclear fuel demand in the future and supply it
to other countries in the framework of international regulations on 
nuclear fuel," Kharrazi added. 
On Sunday, the Iranian foreign minister hailed 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 meeting. 
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, which led the country to sign an 
additional protocol to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty late last 
year. 
BH/212 
End