Deputy FM: Iran's right to enrich uranium non-negotiable

Iran, a few days ahead of the new round of talks with world major powers over its nuclear drive, has reiterated its firm stance of protecting the country's right to enrich uranium for non-military purposes. "Iran's right to enrich uranium is non-negotiable, but the level and amount of uranium enrichment can be discussed during the talks," Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said in a statement carried by the state news agency (Irna) Sunday. The remarks came a few days ahead of Tehran nuclear talks with the Group of 5+1, or the five permanent members of the UN Security Council - the US, Russia, China, Britain and France - plus Germany, scheduled on October 15-16 in Geneva. Araqchi ruled out the possibility of accepting a Western proposal to transfer Iran's enriched uranium to a third country. "We will never give up what the Iranians are entitled to, based on international conventions," he stressed. "Although Iran is ready to discuss the level of enrichment, the exit of nuclear materials is a redline." Araqchi, however, underlined that Iran is seeking to engage in constructive negotiations that eases the concerns about its nuclear program. "We are not to waste time in the upcoming nuclear talks and do not want negotiations for the sake of negotiations," Araqchi said. "Iran is determined to engage in constructive talks and will put forward a new plan to be discussed in Geneva." World powers led by the United States accuse Iran of masking a weapons drive with what Tehran says is a purely civilian atomic program. Iran says it is pursuing nuclear technology purely for the peaceful goal of generating electricity.