Head of the Iranian Nuclear Research Center: We Worked Both on Enriching Uranium and Converting Regular into Heavy Water. It is not in Iran's best interest to withdraw from the NPT

The following are excerpts from an interview with the head of the Iranian Center for Nuclear Research in the Iranian Atomic Energy Organization, Ali-Asghar Soltaniyeh, which aired on Jaam-e Jam 2 TV on May 3, 2005

Soltaniyeh: Since we were not sure we could obtain uranium enrichment technology, we worked on both tracks. We worked both on enrichment, in order to provide fuel to reactors like Bushehr and Tehran, which require enriched uranium. We also worked on a heavy water reactor, which is scheduled to be built in Arak. This is a research reactor with an output of 40 megawatts. Next to this reactor are other facilities that convert regular water into heavy water. This water is intended for future use in the reactor's heavy water pool. Building this reactor will take a few more years.

Host: This is just for cooling, right?

Soltaniyeh: For cooling and for slowing the neutrons. You need to slow down the neutrons so that they can penetrate the uranium nuclei and cause fission.

It is not at all in Iran's best interest to withdraw from the NPT, since our situation is presently very good. We underwent many inspections - more than a thousand - and fortunately, it's been proven that all the allegations were wrong. It was explicitly stated in Al-Baradei's report that no evidence that Iran had diverted its nuclear project to forbidden channels.

In such a good situation, when there is no evidence that our activities are for anything but peaceful purposes, withdrawal from the NPT would arouse concern and lack of clarity as to whether our goals are military, considering the capabilities Iran has obtained in enrichment and reprocessing. In my opinion this is a heavy price to pay. It's not in our interest. The top officials and MPs are aware of this. Of course, we always emphasize that Iran is fully entitled to withdraw from any treaty. But as for withdrawing from the NPT, I don't think that it's on the agenda of Iran's senior officials or the regime. We will continue the close cooperation with the IAEA, but we will do so while at the same time reserving our rights in accordance with Article 4 (of the NPT) and the commitments outlined in the IAEA charter. We will not allow anyone to force us to accept anything beyond that.