Iran resumes uranium enrichment activities

The &to=http:// english.pravda.ru/cis/2002/06/21/30830.html ' target=_blank>Iranian Parliament Sunday approved a bill on "access to peaceful nuclear technology" in a bid to press the government to resume uranium enrichment activities, reports Xinhua.

The bill, ratified by 188 out of 205 votes in favour, urged the government to "adopt measures to help the country get access to peaceful nuclear technology including supply of fuel for the country's nuclear electricity," the IRNA news agency reported.

The government must carry out the measures by applying domestic and international potentials while remaining committed to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, international regulations and the &to=http:// english.pravda.ru/world/2003/01/16/42111.html ' target=_blank>International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the bill said.

The Majlis, dominated by hardliners, ratified the general outline of the bill last October and its second reading on Feb. 22 this year.

Over 50 lawmakers have called for making the bill harsher, arguing that the nuclear negotiations will apparently fail since Europe has paid no heed to Iran's constructive proposals, informs Non Business News.

Iran says its nuclear fuel is needed for peaceful power generation, not for weapons.

The motion in Iran's parliament which called on the government "to take action to obtain peaceful nuclear technology, including provision of the fuel cycle for generating 20,000 megawatts of electricity", was approved by 188 out of 205MPs.