DUBAI, May 19. /TASS/. The idea of forming a nuclear consortium should not be seen as an alternative to Tehran's nuclear program, which the United States demands be curtailed, Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said.
"The initiative to create a nuclear consortium should by no means be considered as an alternative to the uranium enrichment process. It can be discussed on its own merits, but if the purpose of this proposal is to force us to abandon enrichment, this will not happen," the diplomat said at a weekly briefing.
On May 14, the New York Times newspaper, citing sources, reported that Tehran had proposed creating a consortium of Middle Eastern countries to enrich uranium with American investment. According to the newspaper, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi presented this plan to US special envoy Steve Witkoff on May 11 during indirect talks in Oman. The publication names Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates as possible participants in the consortium.