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Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Iran's production of nuclear fuel on an 'industrial scale', April 10, 2007

Mikhail Kamynin, the Spokesman of Russia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Answers a Media Question Regarding the Iranian President's Announcement of the Start of the Production in Iran of Nuclear Fuel on an Industrial Scale, April 10, 2007.

Question: How could you comment on the statement made by the President of Iran on April 9 that "as of today Iran is among the countries which produce nuclear fuel on an industrial scale"?

Answer: We have, of course, been closely watching all the statements made by Iranian leaders during the celebration of a "nuclear technology day."

I have to say that around this statement, just as around the nuclear program of Iran as a whole, there is, as a rule, in the press and commentaries an abundance of emotions and sensationalism not necessarily supported by evidence. We, of course, take with utmost seriousness the statement that Iran now embarks on mastering productive capacities for the enrichment of uranium.

However, we are not aware of any technological breakthroughs in the Iranian nuclear program recently which would change the nature of work on enrichment being carried out in the country. In all the circumstances we have sent an inquiry to the IAEA and are waiting for assessments from the Agency, which carries out safeguards and verification activities regarding the nuclear programs of Iran.

We feel compelled to state that in the last few days, in particular, during the celebrations of the "nuclear technology day" in the Islamic Republic of Iran (IRI) quite a few statements have been made about the intentions of the country that can in no way be regarded as a reflection of the readiness of its leadership to strengthen cooperation with the IAEA and comply with the decisions of the UN Security Council with a view to restoring trust in its nuclear program. Of particular concern, of course, are the threats that the IRI might withdraw from the Treaty on the Nonproliferation of Nuclear Weapons.

As before, we proceed from the necessity for our Iranian colleagues to decide all matters through cooperation with the IAEA and by negotiations, readiness for which was in their turn unambiguously confirmed in the statement of the foreign ministers of the Six, including Russia, of March 24, 2007. We presume that this is the only reasonable and viable route to solving the Iranian nuclear problem and Russia is ready to facilitate achieving this goal.

Source: Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, http://www.russianembassy.org.