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Iran will not back down on resuming nuclear activities opposed by the West but may wait for a few weeks if talks with European powers go well, chief negotiator Hassan Rohani said on Wednesday.
Such a delay could postpone a growing crisis with the EU and the US over Tehran8217;s nuclear plans until after an Iranian Presidential election on June 17, although Rohani said there was no link between the two.
In an interview, Rohani repeatedly said that Iran would not change its mind about restarting a plant in the city of Isfahan that converts raw uranium into a gas that can be used to feed nuclear power plants or make atomic bombs.
He added, however, that such a step would not lead automatically to the next and most critical stage of the nuclear fuel process8212;the enrichment of uranium. He said the only area for discussion at talks with Foreign Ministers of Britain, France and Germany in Paris on May 23 were the timing of a resumption and the conditions, including inspections. 8216;8216;There are no other issues negotiable,8217;8217; he said. 8212;Reuters
