Iran seeks right to enrich to uranium to 'all levels'

The country is currently enriching uranium to 20%, a high mark that puts it close to the break-out level necessarily for making weapons-grade material

Iran said it told world powers today that it sought recognition of its right to enrich uranium to "all levels" in any future deal that could see it also accept foreign shipments of high-grade fuel.    

"We insisted on the fact that the enrichment of uranium for peaceful purposes to all levels is the right of the Islamic Republic," chief nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili told reporters, adding that "the question of the supply of fuel could" could be a part of such a deal.

Iran is currently enriching uranium to 20%, a high mark that puts it close to the so-called break-out level necessarily for producing weapons-grade material.

The Islamic Republic says it needs this uranium to produce special medical isotopes that help cure cancer.

The West sees this is as a guise and has instead floated offers that may see it accept Iranian enrichment to the 5% levels necessary for nuclear power plants, while providing it with higher-grade material on its own terms.    

Jalili also warned that Iran was not ready to accept the crippling oil sanctions that the European Union and the United States were now both imposing, and was willing to fight back.