Khamenei says ‘red lines’ on N-plan remain

TEHRAN: Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei reiterated on Wednesday his country’s “red lines” in negotiations with world powers over its controversial nuclear programme due to resume next week in Vienna.

An infographic published on Khamenei’s official website outlined 11 points to be observed by negotiators before Iran signs an accord.

One of the stipulations includes “the absolute need for Iran’s uranian enrichment capacity to be 190,000 SWU (Separate Work Units)” - close to 20 times its current processing ability.

Iranian officials say this is needed to produce fuel for its Bushehr reactor, which is being provided by Russia until 2021.

The US and other Western states, however, want Iran to decrease its enrichment capability.

“Fordo, which cannot be destroyed by the enemy, must be preserved,” the text on Khamenei’s website said, referring to the uranium enrichment site built under a mountain 100 kilometres south of Tehran.

“The work of nuclear scientists should in no way be stopped or slowed,” the text said, adding that Iran had the right to pursue nuclear “research and development.” Iranian President Hassan Rouhani gave an optimistic assessment of the talks on Wednesday, saying only details separate the two sides.

“We have reached understanding on part of the issues ... and part of it (the deal) remains to be negotiated,” Rouani was quoted as saying.

According to Rouhani, there is no longer any dispute about allowing Iran to maintain its enrichment programme, keep its heavy water reactor in the city of Arak going or operate its underground enrichment facility at Fordo.

“The only differences (that remain) are about details and quantity,” Rouhani said without elaborating.

US Secretary of State John Kerry, European Union negotiator Catherine Ashton and Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif will gather in Vienna next week, diplomats say.

Separately, Iran dismissed criticism by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) of its refusal to let one expert into the country as part of a team investigating allegations of nuclear weapons research.

Agencies