Iran will go "to the limit" with its nuclear program and is prepared for whatever international consequences follow, a senior Iranian Ayatollah said yesterday in a prayers ceremony in Tehran.
Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati said that the EU should know that despite all threats "this country [Iran] would never ever make concessions on its legitimate right [of pursuing nuclear technology]."
"First we will start Isfahan [plant for uranium conversion] and then Natanz [plant for uranium enrichment]," said Jannati, who is also head of the constitutional court-like Guardian Council.
The remarks by Jannati, front-runner of the Islamic hardline faction, came just a few hours after Iran confirmed receipt of a proposal by the EU regarding its controversial nuclear program.
The Ayatollah accused the EU of following a "deceiving, dishonest and arrogant approach" towards Iran and said that the Europeans were still not familiar with Iran's real mentality.
"The presidential elections have clearly shown the nature of the Iranian nation," he said, referring to the landslide victory of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad who belongs to the ultra-Islamic Abadgaran party which also dominates the parliament.
The Ayatollah said that the administration of Ahmadinejad would "compensate" some of the mistakes made in the previous government of Mohammad Khatami. He did not further elaborate.
Meanwhile, speaking shortly after the EU submitted proposals aimed at ending the standoff over Iran's nuclear program, French Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy said yesterday he hoped Tehran would "hear the voice of reason" and abandon its uranium conversion plans.
If it did not, he warned in an interview with Europe 1 radio, it was certain that Iran would be hauled before the UN Security Council, where it would face possible sanctions.
With Britain and Germany, France is a member of the so-called EU-3 that has been negotiating with Iran to obtain guarantees that its nuclear program is peaceful. But Tehran is threatening to resume sensitive uranium conversion work, part of the nuclear fuel cycle.
"I hope that the Iranians will not close the door on negotiations," Douste-Blazy said. "I hope Iran will heed the voice of reason."
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