Iran will not abandon uranium enrichment, despite its negotiations with the European Union on its nuclear programme, a senior official said on Sunday. Foreign Ministry spokesman Hamid Reza Asefi said Iran would never renounce its right to carry out the process, but was hopeful about the outcome of the talks with Europe. "Iran's uranium enrichment suspension is only for a short period of time," Asefi said. "It will be until reaching an agreement with the EU." Officials from Britain, France, Germany and Iran are to meet later this month to continue the talks. Asefi said Iran was hopeful about the next meeting, saying: "The prospect of the talks is more positive than before." "We hope to reach a clear solution at the next meeting on April 19," Asefi said.
