Iran invites US to bid on power plant
(AP)
Updated: 2005-12-11 20:08

Germany, France and Britain have suggested shifting Iran's enrichment activities to Russia, where nuclear material would be enriched only to fuel levels and not to weapons grade.

But Iran said it would enrich uranium and produce nuclear fuel domestically despite international efforts to curb its atomic program.

On Friday, Mohamed ElBaradei, head of the United Nations' International Atomic Energy Agency, said the international community was losing patience with Iran over its nuclear program. ElBaradei was awarded the 2005 Nobel Peace Prize on Saturday.

"ElBaradei should not politicize issues," Asefi said. "He knows Iran has not diverted in its nuclear program. Some of words that he said were not correct at all. It would be better for him not to have many interviews."

Iran is standing its ground amid international pressure to cut back on its nuclear activities, particularly uranium enrichment, which can produce material for use in warheads or fuel for nuclear plants to generate electricity.