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Khatami vows nuclear plan will progress

TEHERAN, FEB. 10. The Iranian President, Mohammad Khatami, has vowed that no Iranian Government would ever abandon the progress that the country had made in developing peaceful nuclear technology.

The comment did not augur well for negotiations with the big three European powers who are trying to persuade Iran to cease permanently the enrichment of uranium.

Mr. Khatami warned that if the talks with Britain, France and Germany fail, his Government would not be bound by its undertaking to suspend enrichment.

``If other parties (to the negotiations) are not committed to their promises, we will not be committed to our promises at all,'' Mr. Khatami told a meeting of foreign diplomats in Teheran. The Europeans have promised Iran economic and technological aid in return for cooperation on the nuclear issue.

Uranium enriched to low levels can be used for fuel for nuclear power stations. Enriched to high levels it is used for atomic bombs. Iran says it seeks enriched uranium only for power stations, but the United States believes it wants to build nuclear weapons. ``Neither my Government, nor any other (Iranian) Government can give a convincing reply to people (who seek our) giving up peaceful nuclear technology,'' said Mr. Khatami, whose second and final presidential term ends later this year. ``Iran has achieved nuclear technology without the help of others, and it will never give up its right (to use it) under illegitimate pressure from others.'' — AP

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