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Asefi: Permanent suspension of uranium enrichment not negotiable

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Tehran, Nov 21, IRNA -- Foreign Ministry spokesman Hamid-Reza Asefi 
here Saturday said that permanent suspension of uranium enrichment 
activity by Iran is not negotiable and certainly not on the Iranian 
agenda. 
Speaking to reporters at his weekly briefing, he added that any 
suspension would take place voluntarily in accordance with an 
agreement reached with the EU trio. 
"I don`t believe that the trio will expect us to stop enrichment 
activities permanently as this is not called for in the Paris 
agreement. If such is requested, we will certainly reject it," he 
added. 
In response to a question on President Mohammad Khatami`s 
reported announcement last week that Iran is in a position to help 
the US withdraw from the quagmire into which it has sunk in Iraq, he 
said such was not the implication of the president`s remarks and 
whatever may have been reported reflects the media`s own analysis. 
"What the US has done in Iraq is an absolute blunder and since it 
is their mistake only they can rectify it by withdrawing their troops 
from Iraq as soon as possible," he added. 
Concerning the US plan to have the issue of a US withdrawal of 
its troops from Iraq excluded from the agenda of the upcoming 
conference in the Egyptian city of Sharm el-Sheikh, he said that 
Iran was determined to push for such withdrawal. 
Asked to comment on the Dutch foreign minister`s predicted 
outcome of the next scheduled meeting of the International Atomic 
Energy Organization`s (IAEA) Board of Governors, he said: "I am 
optimistic about the upcoming meeting and believe that discussions on 
the issue are on the right track. But I disapprove of the wording of 
the Dutch foreign minister." 
Turning to a gathering in front of the Foreign Ministry of family 
members of Iranian captives held in Iraq, he said that extensive 
efforts have been taken over the past days to obtain their release. 
Asefi reiterated his advice to Iranians to stop visiting Iraq 
until the situation in the country becomes normal. 
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