Iran may resume uranium enrichment - which can be used to make atomic bombs - in March if talks with the European Union fail to yield satisfactory progress, a senior Iranian security official said today.
If the talks go well, Mr Hossein Mousavian told reporters was prepared to extend until June the enrichment freeze it began in late November in an effort to disprove US accusations it is seeking nuclear weapons.
"The outcome of the talks will have a great impact on Iran's decision," said Mr Mousavian, a member of Iran's nuclear negotiating team with the EU and head of the foreign policy committee on the Supreme National Security Council.
"If the talks end without any result, March itself could be the date for resuming enrichment. "I am optimistic that we will reach an agreement on the objective guarantees by June and I believe this period is sufficient for reaching a mutual understanding," he added, explaining suspension would continue throughout these talks.
Tehran has consistently said its freeze on nuclear work was voluntary and would last only a matter of months. But the possibility enrichment could resume as soon as March is likely to concern Washington, which has given only lukewarm support to the EU initiative to engage with the Islamic state. Iran denies seeking nuclear weapons but agreed to freeze sensitive atomic work, including uranium enrichment, last year to avoid referral to the United Nations Security Council, where it could have faced economic sanctions.
Led by Britain, Germany and France, the EU is trying to persuade Iran to give up work that could be used to make atomic warheads in return for a package of incentives including trade deals and help with a civilian nuclear programme.