Iran nuclear chief rules out compromise

The head of Iran’s nuclear agency has ruled out a compromise proposal that uranium enrichment for his country’s controversial nuclear programme be carried out in Russia.

Speaking after talks with Russian envoy Igor Ivanov, Gholamreza Aghazadeh told reporters: “Iran’s nuclear fuel will be produced inside Iran.”

European negotiators and the US were reportedly willing to accept the arrangement as a compromise to allow Iran to move ahead with its nuclear programme while ensuring it does not produce nuclear weapons.

Washington says Iran is aiming to produce nuclear warheads.

Tehran denies that charge, saying its programme is intended solely to produce electricity while insisting it has the right to develop the entire nuclear fuel cycle on its own.