Iran says it will not abandon uranium enrichment program

Investing.com -- Iran will not stop uranium enrichment or give up its uranium stockpile, state media reported Thursday, quoting Mohammad Eslami, head of the country's Atomic Energy Organization. The statement came after the United States said Iran must make meaningful reductions in its enrichment capacity.

Eslami dismissed renewed US threats against Iran's nuclear facilities as "nothing new" and said enrichment was "an inseparable part" of the nuclear process.

"Enrichment is an integral part of the nuclear process, and we will not abandon it in any way. How can you claim to have a nuclear industry if you don't have the starting point of the process? The nuclear industry is the driving force of science and technology," Eslami said.

The comments come as Iran and the United States exchanged proposals in recent weeks aimed at ending the war and reopening the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global energy shipping route.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said Thursday that Iran could respond within days to a US reply to Iran's proposal. Under the proposal, the Strait of Hormuz could be reopened within seven days if necessary conditions were met.

President Donald Trump said later Thursday that the United States is having productive discussions with Iran and will not launch any attack before the US midterm congressional elections in November.

Israel, the US and other Western states have accused Iran of seeking nuclear weapons, pointing to its move to enrich uranium to 60%, far higher than needed for civilian uses and closer to the 90% needed for a weapon.

Iran denies seeking nuclear weapons. Iranian authorities have said Tehran could agree to dilute its most highly enriched uranium.

Original Article

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