Iran said yesterday its nuclear activities have not halted or
slowed down, rejecting reports that it has not significantly
expanded its uranium enrichment program this summer as planned.
"There has been no slowing down, no halt and no retreat. Our
activities continue on the same basis we began our peaceful nuclear
program," Foreign Ministry spokesman Mohammad Ali Hosseini told
reporters.
Hosseini was responding to speculation that the threat of more
UN Security Council sanctions may have forced Iran to slow down its
disputed uranium enrichment program.
He also accused the United States of seeking to derail Iran's
talks with the UN nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy
Agency.
Iran and the IAEA reached an agreement last week on a timetable
to respond to remaining questions over Teheran's controversial
nuclear activities.
The US criticized the deal, saying it won't save Iran from a
third set of UN sanctions for refusing to halt uranium enrichment.
The remark drew criticism from some diplomats in Vienna, where IAEA
is based, who suggested that the US was trying to derail important
progress in the Iranian nuclear negotiations in its drive to impose
new UN penalties.
"Nothing else is expected from the US. The trend (of talks)
between Iran and the IAEA has been successful... other countries
welcomed that. But Americans are making efforts to harm this
trend," Hosseini said.
Iran's agreement with the IAEA is expected to allow for easier
inspection of Iran's nuclear facilities by IAEA experts and
encourage Teheran to give detailed answers on remaining questions
over two decades of its nuclear activities.
Meanwhile,Iran vowed to use a new 500-kg "smart" bomb against
its enemies and unveiled mass production of the new weapon, state
television reported yesterday.
Teheran first announced development of the long-range guided
bomb on Thursday, saying it could be deployed by the country's
aging US-made F-4 and F-5 fighter jets.
"We will use these (bombs) against our enemies when the time
comes," Defense Minister Mostafa Mohammad Najjar said on state
television yesterday.
The broadcast included a brief clip of a fighter jet reportedly
dropping one of the bombs, which destroyed a target on the
ground.
The television also showed Najjar unveiling a mass production
line for the weapon in Teheran.
"We will use this weapon where we want to... hit enemy's
strategic and defense targets," Najjar said.
(China Daily via agencies August 27, 2007)
