Iran to resume uranium enrichment if n-talks fail

If talks regarding Iran's nuclear issue fail to result in a comprehensive deal, the country will resume its high-grade uranium enrichment, a media report said Friday.

"It is possible for Iran and the P5+1 (the five permanent members of the UN Security Council - the US, China, Russia, France, Britain plus Germany) group to reach a comprehensive nuclear agreement, but the two sides have big differences on some subjects," Xinhua quoted Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi as saying Thursday.

"If the talks fail, Iran will return to 20 percent uranium enrichment," Araqchi said.

Under an interim deal clinched between Iran and the world powers in Geneva last November, Iran agreed to suspend 20 percent uranium enrichment and to dilute or oxidise its high-grade enriched uranium stockpile.

Although November's interim deal can be extended for another six months if agreement cannot be reached, there are concerns that prolongation of negotiations may bring about other problems and make a comprehensive deal even difficult, Araqchi added.

Before the upcoming Vienna nuclear talks slated for June 16-20, Iran has already started to hold bilateral meetings with members of the P5+1, so as to narrow the gaps between the two sides.