Iranian officials say the Islamic Republic will continue to enrich uranium regardless of whether it purchases nuclear fuel from other nations. Iranian Foreign Minister Manouvchehr Mottaki told journalists Tuesday during a news conference broadcast live on state television, "These issues are not related. Iran will continue its uranium enrichment. It is not linked to buying fuel from abroad."
Iran began talks Monday with Western officials at the offices of the United Nations International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Vienna to discuss a compromise on halting Tehran's nuclear development activities. The West is offering a proposal whereby Russia and France would enrich Iran's uranium and return it in the form of nuclear fuel rods for use in powering its various nuclear energy plants.