Iranian cleric dismisses western nuclear deal

A LEADING hard-line Iranian cleric yesterday came out against a Western incentive package aimed at persuading the country to suspend uranium enrichment.

It was not immediately clear if Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati’s comments in any way represented the Iranian Government. Mr Jannati is the head of the powerful Guardian Council, a constitutional watchdog arbitrating between the parliament and the government. He is not considered a government official.

Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has the final say in all state matters, has overruled hard-liners previously in the nuclear dispute.

“The package they have presented is a package (that is) good for them. It’s not good for Iran,” Mr Jannati said in his Friday sermon.

The EU’s foreign policy chief, Javier Solana, presented the package to Iran on Tuesday. Its contents have not been made public, but diplomats said the package includes economic rewards and a provision for some US nuclear technology if Iran halts enriching uranium.

Together with Germany, the five veto-wielding members of the UN Security Council — the US, France, Britain, China and Russia — have only demanded that Iran suspend uranium enrichment, and not permanently halt it as an initial condition for negotiations.

The offer, however, also contains the implicit threat of UN sanctions if Iran remains defiant.

Iran’s initial reaction to the package was encouraging. But Tehran has said it will only announce its position after carefully studying the package. Mr Solana said he expects a reply within “weeks.”

Mr Jannati said Iran must continue enriching.

“We have to maintain enrichment to the level of 3.5 to 5%. They have no choice but to accept it,” Mr Jannati added. Uranium enriched to this level is used in nuclear reactors to produce electricity. It needs to be enriched to more than 90% for use in a warhead.

Tehran is under intense international pressure to accept the deal in exchange for putting on hold a uranium enrichment program that the West fears could lead to the creation of nuclear weapons.

In a major policy shift, the US agreed last week to join talks with Iran, provided Tehran suspends all suspect nuclear activities. Tehran has welcomed direct talks with Washington, but rejected any preconditions.