Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Hamid-Reza Asefi said yesterday
that Iran would continue its uranium enrichment activities despite growing
pressure for a halt. "The issue of whether Iran would halt or suspend enrichment
is not on its agenda," Asefi told a press briefing.
Iran has repeatedly vowed never to give up its legal right to enriching
uranium for peaceful purposes under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
Foreign ministers from the five permanent members of the UN Security Council
-- the United States, Russia, China, Britain and France -- plus Germany will
meet in Vienna on Thursday to discuss a new package of both incentives and
penalties in a bid to persuade Iran to give up uranium enrichment.
Diplomats from the six nations made some progress in formulating a common
position at a meeting in London last Wednesday.
Asefi said Tuesday his government would reject any demand by the six
countries for Iran to halt enrichment.
"Definitely, we won't accept it. It's natural that we won't give up our
rights," he told reporters.
