Iranian nuclear centre ‘will never close’

AN IRANIAN lawmaker has said his country will never close the Fordo nuclear site in exchange for an easing of Western sanctions.

Alaeddin Boroujerdi, head of the parliamentary committee on national security and foreign policy, told the semi-official ISNA news agency Fordo is a “centre that will never be closed”.

Fordo, south-west of Tehran, is producing uranium enriched to 20 per cent, which can be turned into weapons-grade material.

Mr Boroujerdi said that closing the centre, a long-standing demand by the West, would mean support to Israel, Iran’s arch-enemy.

The remarks came 10 days before another round of nuclear talks between Iran and the West, which have been stalled since May. The West suspects Iran is pursuing a weapons programme, a charge which has been denied.