Teheran: Enrichment will continue

Iranian Foreign Ministry says enriching uranium is Iran's "right," decries demands for suspension.

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
Ahmadinejad Natanz 248.88 (photo credit: AP [file])
Ahmadinejad Natanz 248.88
(photo credit: AP [file])
Iran said Monday it will continue its disputed uranium enrichment activity despite a new UN resolution seeking suspension of the process. Iran's foreign ministry spokesman Hasan Qashqavi said in his weekly briefing that enriching uranium was Iran's "right" and that it intended to continue to do so. He describes as "beyond the law" demands for the suspension of Iran's uranium enrichment. The US and Russia on Friday sponsored a new UN resolution reaffirming three previous resolutions that imposed sanctions on Iran for refusing to halt its uranium enrichment program. The US and several European nations say Teheran wants to build nuclear weapons. Iran denies the accusation. Meanwhile, in a farewell interview with Yediot Aharonot published Monday, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said talk of a unilateral Israeli strike on Iran was "part of our delusions of grandeur." Iran was the world's problem, not just Israel's, he said. "The thought that if America, Russia, China, Britain and Germany cannot deal with the Iranians we Israelis can ... is an example of a loss of perspective," added the outgoing prime minister.