Iran lawmaker: No need for more 20% uranium

TEHRAN: A news agency covering Iran’s parliament has quoted a prominent lawmaker saying Tehran doesn’t need any more 20 percent enriched uranium, a key point in negotiations between the Islamic Republic and the West.

The comments, published online Wednesday by ICANA, come from Hossein Naqvi Hosseini. He was quoted as saying the nuclear reactor in Tehran “has been supplied and currently no need is felt for production of 20 percent enriched uranium.” He did not say whether Iran will stop 20 percent enrichment.

Hosseini is not a spokesman for the Iranian government, nor a member of the country’s nuclear negotiation team.

However, he is a prominent lawmaker. His comments come as the West wants Iran to stop production of that enriched uranium.

Western powers fear Iran’s nuclear program could be used to build an atomic bomb. Iran says its program is peaceful.