H.E. Mr. Hossein Panahiazar:

I am sure members have all read about the nuclear issue. We are going to supply the committee with a detailed paper in respect of this matter. I should mention the fact that the nuclear programme in Iran was launched in the 1950s. It is not new and it was started with the help of the United States as part of the atoms for peace programme. In 1967 the Tehran nuclear research centre, in respect of which the US supplied a 5 MW nuclear research reactor, was established. The centre was fuelled by enriched uranium. Following the Iranian revolution, the United States cut off the supply of the enriched uranium required for the research centre. The Tehran research reactor uses 20% enriched fuel to produce radioactive isotopes used to treat more than 1 million people who suffer from various diseases, mainly cancers. This is the outcome of the research centre, which requires 20% enriched uranium.

We have tried to import 20% enriched uranium, both through the International Atomic Energy Agency and from other countries. Unfortunately, we have not received a positive response in this regard. A proposal was put forward, by the US and others, that Iran should send out part of the enriched uranium - approximately 1,200 kg - and have it enriched to 20% and then returned for use in the research reactor. This proposal was not successful. The President and Prime Minister of Brazil and Turkey, respectively, came to Tehran and signed the deal. Everything was finalised and I can supply to the committee the relevant letter that was published by the foreign Ministers of Brazil and Turkey. It was our view that problem had been solved and that we would not be obliged to enrich uranium to 20% purity, particularly as this is very costly and we do not need that cost. Unfortunately, the deal to which I refer did not work. We were left, therefore, with a research centre and a reactor on which patients in Iran are dependent. There was no possibility of obtaining the uranium required. As a result, we had no choice other than to produce 20% enriched uranium ourselves.

On 2 October, our President clearly stated that Iran had no alternative other than to enrich uranium to a purity level of 20% after the Western countries had refused to sell Iran the nuclear fuel it needed to operate its research centre reactor for producing the medical products required for patients. The Western countries have refused Iran's requests on several occasions. The President stated that we were even ready to give 3.5% enriched fuel to the West and to get back fuel enriched to 20%. Again, the West was not ready to do this so we were forced to start enriching uranium to a purity level of 20%. The President also emphasised, in New York and again during an interview in Tehran, that Iran is still willing to stop enriching uranium to 20% if the International Atomic Energy Agency members sell the required fuel to it. Last week, in an interview with Der Spiegel in Germany, our Foreign Minister clearly stated:

If our right to enrichment is recognised, we are prepared to offer an exchange. We would voluntarily limit the extent of our enrichment programme, but in return we would need a guaranteed supply of the relevant fuels from abroad.

Our proposal is very clear. We are ready to stop enriching uranium to a purity level of 20% if a guarantee is given that the research centre will be supplied with the fuel it needs. The research centre is the only place in Iran which supplies the material required to treat the patients to whom I refer. Some 1 million Iranian patients rely on the materials produced at the centre. As soon as the western countries reply positively to our proposal, we will cease producing the 20% enriched uranium about which they are concerned.

As one of the members stated, none of the reports from either the IAEA or various intelligence services have provided evidence to the effect that Iran is working on nuclear weapons. We have made it clear that we are not engaged in such work. Iran is a member of the IAEA. Inspectors are present at the centres in Iran on a 24-hour basis. They are verifying what is happening and there are cameras on site. We have no plan to produce nuclear weapons. Independent experts from different countries, including from the United States, have produced reports in respect of this matter. Members may have seen those reports but we can certainly make them available to the committee. Our position in this regard is very clear. The only demand we have is that the countries who are opposed to Iran enriching uranium should provide us with what we need and should recognise our rights under the NPT.