Ahmadinejad: Iran has ‘right’ to enrich uranium

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad says that Iran has “a right” to enrich 20 percent uranium, throwing cold water on ongoing negotiations between Tehran and six world powers over Iran’s nuclear program.

Ahmadinejad said Wednesday that Iran’s 20 percent enriched uranium has “nothing to do with producing a bomb” in an interview from Tehran with France 24.

Ahmadinejad is weighing in on Iran’s nuclear program amid talks between Tehran and the P5+1 group — the five permanent United Nations Security Council members plus Germany — that have restarted in an effort to end the conflict over Tehran’s nuclear ambitions.

There have been two rounds of nuclear talks this year, and a third is scheduled for Moscow next month, following the talks that ended last week in Baghdad.

The six world powers want Iran to stop producing 20 percent enriched uranium, something to which Iran has been hesitant to agree.

Ahmadinejad suggested in the interview that Iran might be open to giving up its 20 percent enrichment if concessions are offered.

“If others do not wish for us to fully benefit from this right, they need to explain to us why,” he said. “And also they have to say what they are willing to give to the Iranian people in exchange.”

But the Iranian president also cast doubt that the nuclear talks would yield a significant milestone.

"We are not expecting miracles at the next nuclear meeting in Moscow," he said.

Iran insists that its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes only, while the United States and its allies suspect Iran of seeking a nuclear weapon. Uranium enriched at 20 percent is one level below the weapons-grade 90 percent enrichment.

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