Iran sets domestic uranium enrichment as red line

Tehran – Iranian President Hassan Rouhani Sunday said domestic uranium enrichment is Iran’s red line and no concession can be made in this regard.

The remarks came after three days of intensive nuclear talks between Iran and the five permanent members of the UN Security Council — Britain, China, France, Russia and the US — plus Germany in Geneva, which ended Saturday without any deal, reports Xinhua.

The world should trust Iran and its people should enjoy their “legal nuclear rights”, said the president, reiterating that his country is only pursuing peaceful nuclear technology.

“The Iranians’ rights and the national interests are our red lines, including the nuclear rights within the international regulations and uranium enrichment on Iran’s soil,” he was quoted as saying by Iran’s official news agency, IRNA.

“In words and in action, we have told the negotiators clearly that the threats, sanctions, humiliation and discrimination will not be instrumental (to press Iran) and Iran has not bowed to any power and will not do that,” Rouhani said, addressing the Iranian Majlis (parliament).

He dismissed the idea that sanctions was the reasons behind Iran’s engagement in the nuclear talks. “Those who have come to the negotiating table with us have come to the conclusion that sanctions are not effective tools to solve the problem.”

Iran’s talks with the five permanent members of the UN Security Council and Germany was extended to an unscheduled third day, but the two sides failed to nail down an interim deal as expected.

The world powers agreed to reconvene talks with Iran over its controversial nuclear programme on Nov 20.