Iran rejects any new nuke-related obligations

By The Associated Press

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TEHRAN, Iran - Iran won't accept any new internationally imposed obligations regarding its nuclear program and the world must recognize Iran as a nuclear-capable nation, its foreign minister said yesterday.

The 35-nation board of governors of the nuclear-watchdog International Atomic Energy Agency is meeting tomorrow to discuss Iran's nuclear program.

"We won't accept any new obligations," Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi said. "Iran has a high technical capability and has to be recognized by the international community as a member of the nuclear club. This is an irreversible path."

The United States and its allies say Iran is conducting a secret nuclear-weapons program. Iran says its nuclear program is geared toward generating electricity, not making a bomb.

Iran suspended uranium enrichment last year under mounting international pressure. IAEA inspectors had found traces of highly enriched uranium at two sites, which Iranian officials maintained was due to contaminated imported materials. Uranium enriched to low levels has energy uses, while highly enriched uranium can be used in bombs.

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