Gholamreza Aghazadeh, head of the Atomic Organization of Iran confirmed today that Tehran plans to enrich uranium and produce nuclear fuel, giving no date for when the processes would start. He just stressed they would do so at some stage.
Speaking at a press conference today, Iran's top nuclear official said: "For me, there is no doubt that the process of producing nuclear fuel in Iran will be accomplished," according to The Associated Press.
"There is no doubt that we have to carry out uranium enrichment."
Tehran lately came under intense international pressure to suspend its nuclear program; with Washington claiming that it is covertly trying to develop a nuclear weapons program, charges that had been repetitively rejected by the Islamic republic, which asserts that its nuclear program is solely aimed at peaceful purposes, mainly generating power, to meet the country’s rising need for electricity.
Iran agreed last year to halt all activities related to uranium enrichment as a goodwill gesture, but last August it declared restarting uranium conversion.
Iran seeks producing 2,000 megawatts of electricity through the construction of nuclear power plants with foreign help.
The UN atomic watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency, warned Iran it could be referred to the UN Security Council and face possible sanctions unless it agrees to halt all nuclear activities.
Iran, moreover, rejected a proposal by the European Union big states; Britain France and Germany, which stipulates that uranium enrichment be moved to Russia to ensure it cannot be secretly used for weapons.
Iran, EU talks on Dec. 21
Meanwhile, the AFP reported that Iran and the EU will be holding nuclear talks in Vienna on the 21st of this month amid expectations that Tehran will suspend sensitive nuclear activities "very low".
According to diplomats, the two parties will meet alone, without the interference of Russia as it was originally planned.
"December 21 is confirmed. It will probably be in Vienna but the venue is not totally locked up," a Western diplomat said on condition of anonymity.