An Iranian lawmaker says permanently halting 20-percent uranium enrichment is in no way acceptable for Iran but temporary suspension can be taken under advisement, Press TV reported.
"The reality is that the Islamic Republic of Iran has no problem for negotiating this issue [halting uranium enrichment], provided that the P5+1 - the US, Britain, France, China, and Russia, plus Germany - accept to meet Iran's need to 20-percent enriched uranium," Mohammad Hassan Asferi said on Saturday.
The lawmaker, who is member of Majlis National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, emphasized that Iran would never accept permanent suspension of enrichment, Majlis official news agency, ICANA, reported.
"The West should set a specific period for the suspension of enrichment. For example, they should tell Iran to suspend 20-percent enrichment for two years during which time the West will have to meet Iran's [enriched uranium] needs. However, permanent suspension of enrichment is by no means acceptable," he added.
Asferi stated that even the acceptance of temporary suspension of 20-percent enrichment will depend on the termination of sanctions against Iran and returning the Iranian nuclear dossier from the UN Security Council to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
The US and European Union accuse Iran of pursuing military purposes in its nuclear energy program and have imposed international and unilateral sanctions against Tehran under that pretext.
EU sanctions entered into force against Iran's financial and oil sectors on July 1, to prevent all the union's member states from purchasing Iranian oil, extending insurance coverage for tankers carrying Iranian crude, and doing business with the Iranian central bank.
Tehran has frequently refuted West's allegations, saying repeated inspections by IAEA have never found any diversion in its nuclear energy program toward military purposes.