TEHRAN, April 30 (RIA Novosti) - Iran is prepared to cooperate to the fullest extent with the International Atomic Energy Agency, if its nuclear file stays with the agency, the Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman said Sunday.
Iran broke a two-year moratorium on nuclear research in January for what it claimed were energy-generating purposes, arousing fears around the globe that the country could be secretly trying to create weapons-grade material.
The report by IAEA head Mohamed ElBaradei Friday confirmed Iran's failure to meet the UN Security Council's April 28 deadline to halt all uranium enrichment activities, opening the way for the council to take punitive actions against the Islamic Republic.
"If the IAEA and the UN Security Council come to agreement that the Iran nuclear file will be discussed only within the agency's framework, we'll be ready for maximum cooperation," Hamid Reza Asefi said.
He added that if the UN Security Council members took tough measures against Iran, the Islamic Republic would take respective steps.
Asefi said Iran would not yield to threats and pressure and would not hold negotiations.
"But if a decision is taken to discuss the Iran nuclear file only within the IAEA framework, we are prepared within three weeks to submit a plan of action to expand cooperation with the agency to resolve remaining questions about the Iran nuclear program," Asefi said.
The Iranian diplomat said that Iran would not give up its work for uranium enrichment.
"Uranium enrichment research is an irreversible process for us and also we'll not give up our right to industrial uranium enrichment. At the same time, Iran is ready to hold negotiations on this issue," Asefi said.
