Iran Nuke Plans On Hold, Again

Complies With U.N. Request To Wait Before Reopening Nuclear Plant

(AP)  Iran's chief nuclear negotiator said on Wednesday that the country would push back the reopening of its uranium conversion plant here until "early next week."

Hasan Rowhani said he would grant the U.N.'s nuclear watchdog agency the time it has requested to install surveillance equipment inside the Isfahan nuclear facility, which should be completed by "early next week."

The latest pushback could help resolve tensions between Tehran and European negotiators, who want the suspension kept in place until Tehran receives a package of incentives from Europe, its release is scheduled for Sunday. The Iranian week begins on a Saturday.

Iran declared on Monday that the plant would reopen by Wednesday.

"The IAEA asked for a week to put the surveillance equipment in place. Our effort has been to shorten this period," Rowhani said on state-run television. He said he sent two letters to IAEA chief Mohammed ElBaradei asking him to "expedite" the agency's installation of monitoring cameras inside the Isfahan plant.

ElBaradei Monday had asked Tehran for a "maximum of two days" to send its inspectors to Iran's nuclear facility where they can oversee the dismantling of U.N. seals, said Ali Agha Mohammadi, spokesman for Iran's Supreme National Security Council.

Rowhani said Iran is prepared to resume converting uranium into gas form, the feedstock for uranium enrichment.

Highly enriched uranium can be used to make weapons, while uranium enriched to lower levels is used to produce energy.