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Rowhani says no plan to resume uranium enrichment for now

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Tehran, June 19, IRNA -- Iran said Saturday there is no question of 
resuming uranium enrichment in the near future, but the country may 
reconsider suspending other nuclear activities. 
"We do not want to carry out enrichment for the time being and no 
decision has been taken yet to resume enrichment, but we will 
reconsider suspension of other activities," secretary of the Supreme 
National Security Council, Hassan Rowhani, told reporters here. 
In doing so, Iran will apparently resume production of centrifuge 
components which Tehran has suspended since April 9 as a 
confidence-building measure with the international community. 
Tehran has also voluntarily frozen its uranium enrichment 
activities since last October and signed an additional protocol for 
snap inspection of its nuclear facilities. 
But, Rowhani said the Europeans had failed to live up to their 
commitments, giving enough incentive to the Islamic Republic to go 
back on its own commitments. 
Britain, France and Germany lent their weight to a resolution 
issued by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)`s Board of 
Governors Friday `deploring` Iran`s alleged lack of full cooperation. 
The top security official said, "The Europeans undertook the 
obligation in October that Iran`s file would be closed in June. In 
turn, we committed ourselves to voluntary suspensions. 
"But since the Europeans have not met their commitment, we may 
take new decisions and announce them in the coming days." 
Rowhani, however, reiterated that Tehran would continue its 
activities in the framework of the nuclear non-proliferation and 
safeguards treaties, including construction of a full nuclear fuel 
cycle. 
"The (construction) of a fuel cycle will not be halted under any 
condition; we have announced to the Europeans that the suspension will
be short-term," he said. 
Rowhani said, "The suspension was aimed at confidence-building. 
Today, there is a new climate where we have signed the (Additional) 
Protocol and implemented it. 
"The agency (IAEA), on its part, has carried out its inspections 
and an atmosphere of trust has been created." 
The official also stressed the importance which Tehran attaches to
the European Union, saying the country will continue its cooperation 
with the Europeans. 
"Although we have complaints about the performance of the three 
European countries ... but they said they were faced with certain 
blocks at the meeting and suggested to negotiate with Iran in this 
respect in the near future in July," he said. 
"We will give this chance to them and continue other negotiations 
so that they meet their commitments," Rowhani said, adding the two 
sides were far from closing the doors to cooperation. 
The official understated the resolution passed by the IAEA Board 
of Governors, saying it `does not have much significance` since it 
`has not created any new commitment for the Islamic Republic`. 
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