Iran says won’t close Fordow nuke site in exchange for sanction relief

PanARMENIAN.Net - A prominent Iranian lawmaker has said his country will never close the Fordow nuclear site in exchange for an ease in Western sanctions, Belfast Telegraph reported.

Alaeddin Boroujerdi, head of the influential parliamentary committee on national security and foreign policy, said Fordo is a "centre that will never be closed", according to a report by the semi-official ISNA news agency.

Fordow, south-west of Tehran, is producing uranium enriched to 20%, which can be turned into weapons-grade material.

Boroujerdi said closing the centre, a long-standing demand by the West, would mean support to Israel, Iran's arch-enemy.

The remarks came 10 days before another round of nuclear talks between Iran and the West, which have been stalled since May.

The West suspects Iran is pursuing a weapons programme, a charge which has been denied.