In an apparent bid to keep its nuclear program from coming to a sanctions vote in the UN Security Council, an Iranian nuclear official said yesterday that Tehran was ready for a conditional return to intrusive inspections but that uranium enrichment will continue.
"If the issue is returned to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), we will be ready to allow intrusive inspections," Mohammed Saeedi, Iran's deputy nuclear chief, told state-run television.
Mohammed ElBaradei, the IAEA chief, confirmed in a report on Friday that Iran has successfully produced enriched uranium and has defied a UN Security Council deadline to halt all activities related to uranium enrichment.
Besides standing firm on enrichment, Saeedi also said Iran was pushing forward with further technological developments.
Iran was installing two more 164-centrifuge cascades at its uranium enrichment plant in Natanz, central Iran.
"[Uranium enrichment in] Natanz is continuing its work well ... two other cascades [of 164-machine centrifuges] are being installed," Saeedi said.
Scientists were also studying more advanced centrifuges than those President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad announced were under research earlier this month. The more sophisticated equipment speeds up the enrichment process.
"What we are conducting research on is not only P-2 but even more advanced machines," Saeedi said adding that Iran had not moved beyond using the P-1 centrifuges.
"Our efforts are to use the most sophisticated machines, like in Germany, Netherlands, Japan and Brazil," he added.
The IAEA report brought swift reactions on Friday from nations concerned with Iran's nuclear development.
US President George W. Bush said the world was concerned about Iran's "desire to have not only a nuclear weapon but the capacity to make a nuclear weapon."
Bush added he was not discouraged by Iran's vow to defy world pressure, saying: "I think the diplomatic options are just beginning."
US Ambassador John Bolton took a tough line, saying "the IAEA report shows that Iran has accelerated its efforts to acquire nuclear weapons although, of course, the report doesn't make any conclusions in that regard."
"We're ready to proceed; we're ready to move expeditiously," Bolton said. "And what comes after that is largely in Iran's hands. They have to comply or the Security Council is free to take other steps."
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