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Iran needs more nuclear enrichment capacity - Khamenei | |
(about 3 hours later) | |
Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has said that Iran could eventually need tens of thousands of centrifuges for its nuclear programme. | |
He said that world powers were trying to limit the number to 10,000. | |
But Ayatollah Khamenei said that within five years Iran would need far more centrifuges than that to increase output. | |
Nuclear negotiations are continuing between Iran and the P5+1 group, with a deadline of 20 July for an agreement. | Nuclear negotiations are continuing between Iran and the P5+1 group, with a deadline of 20 July for an agreement. |
The deadline could be extended if an agreement is not made in time. | The deadline could be extended if an agreement is not made in time. |
World powers suspect Iran is seeking nuclear weapons - a charge Iran strongly denies. Iran insists it is enriching uranium to fuel power plants and for medical needs, and wants international sanctions to end. | World powers suspect Iran is seeking nuclear weapons - a charge Iran strongly denies. Iran insists it is enriching uranium to fuel power plants and for medical needs, and wants international sanctions to end. |
Last month French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said that Iran must restrict its number of centrifuges to just a few hundred. | Last month French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said that Iran must restrict its number of centrifuges to just a few hundred. |
Negotiators from the US, UK, France, Russia, China and Germany (P5+1) in Vienna want Iran to scale back enrichment to ensure the uranium cannot be used in weapons. | |
In his comments Ayatollah Khamenei also expressed strong support for Iran's negotiating team in Vienna, a boost to moderate President Rouhani, who has been accused by hardliners of giving to much ground on the nuclear issue. | |
Iran nuclear deal - timeline | Iran nuclear deal - timeline |
Both sides are hoping to build on an interim deal agreed in Geneva in November that saw Iran curb enrichment in return for sanctions relief. | Both sides are hoping to build on an interim deal agreed in Geneva in November that saw Iran curb enrichment in return for sanctions relief. |
But progress since the Geneva deal has been slow, with the last round of talks in May proving unfruitful. | But progress since the Geneva deal has been slow, with the last round of talks in May proving unfruitful. |
Differences remain over how much uranium enrichment capacity Iran should be allowed to keep, as well as other issues. | |
Iranian officials have suggested that the deadline could be extended for another six months to allow negotiations to continue. | Iranian officials have suggested that the deadline could be extended for another six months to allow negotiations to continue. |