Russia says Iran has ‘inalienable right’ to enrich uranium for civilian purposes

Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov says that “the right to enrich uranium for civilian purposes is an inalienable right of the Islamic Republic of Iran.”

Whether Iran, in its negotiations with the United States, decides to “pause” or “insists on preserving this right,” Russia will accept “any approach based on this principle, the principle of the universality of the right to enrichment,” Lavrov tells reporters in Beijing, where he was on a two-day visit this week.

Lavrov emphasizes that Russia and China “firmly support” the talks to end the Mideast war, “so that the parties can advance realistic and fair goals, fully respecting the legitimate rights of each party, in accordance with international law.”

Iran is a signatory to the 1970 Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, which gives countries the right to peaceful nuclear energy programs with safeguards, but does not explicitly mention enrichment.