TEHRAN (AFP) — Iran on Saturday rejected a proposal by its Gulf Arab neighbours to set up a uranium enrichment plant in a neutral country outside the Middle East to resolve a crisis over Tehran's nuclear programme.
"While we are cooperating with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on the nature of our nuclear work, we will continue the uranium enrichment activities on our soil," deputy Supreme National Security Council head Javad Vaeedi was quoted as saying by the ISNA news agency.
"Creation of a consortium to provide enriched uranium is fine as far as it does not require Iran to halt enrichment on its soil," he added.
"If it requires a halt to enrichment in Iran, then it is not acceptable. A plan like this was offered to Iran by Russia previously but it was rejected," he said.
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal was quoted as telling the Middle East Economic Digest (MEED) on its website that Gulf Arab states had come up with a compromise aimed at defusing the crisis between the West and Iran over its disputed nuclear programme.
The plan would allow Tehran to continue developing nuclear energy while removing fears that the project was a cover for an atomic weapons drive.
On Friday, the "E3" of Britain, France and Germany, plus the United States, Russia and China, backed a drive for a third UN Security Council resolution and vote on Iran, unless upcoming reports showed "a positive outcome".
The Security Council has already passed two resolutions imposing sanctions in response to Iran's failure to heed ultimatums to halt enrichment activities and the United States is pushing for a third.
Iran and the IAEA agreed on a timetable in August for Tehran to provide answers to outstanding questions over its nuclear programme.
Tehran has rejected Western charges of trying to build atomic weapons under the guise of a civilian nuclear programme. It maintains it wants to produce electricity for its ever growing population.
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