Iran sees 'no reason' to compromise on uranium enrichment

‘We produce only as much of the 20 percent fuel as we need,’ says Iran’s nuclear chief

The head of Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization and current vice president said Saturday that his country would not compromise on one of the international community’s key demands — that the Islamic Republic cease enriching uranium to 20 percent.

Fereydoon Abbasi Davani was quoted by the ISNA and Mehr news agencies stating that Tehran has “no reason” to cede on the issue, since the country produces “only as much of the 20 percent fuel as we need. No more, no less.”

An International Atomic Energy Agency report released Friday noted that Iran’s average monthly enrichment of uranium has accelerated drastically since the agency’s last investigation in February, and that Iran is continuing to enrich its nuclear stock to 20% purity. The IAEA estimated that Iran has produced a total of 145.6 kg of 20% enriched uranium.

IAEA experts also found particles enriched up to 27% at the Fordo nuclear facility. That is higher than the 20% admitted to by Iran, and closer to the weapons-grade material used in nuclear missiles.

The IAEA’s report came a day after Iran and the so-called P5+1 — the five permanent members of the UN Security Council and Germany — concluded a second round of negotiations in Baghdad that failed to yield a diplomatic resolution to the Iranian nuclear issue.