"Halting uranium enrichment is definitely deleted from the literature of Iran's nuclear activities. In our negotiations the halting of this activity has not been on the table and going back on time is not envisaged."
Iran foreign ministry spokesman Mohammad Ali Hosseini on Sunday rejected Western calls for a suspension of its sensitive nuclear activities just days ahead of crucial talks on its atomic drive with EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana.
"We have so many areas that need money -- education, healthcare and social security. We are short of funds. On the other hand, oil prices on the international market are still fluctuating at high levels. If we increase our reserves aggressively, that will have an impact on the price."
China aims to build up strategic oil reserves that would equal 30 days' worth of imports by 2010, the official newspaper China Daily reported Monday quoting NDRC vice chairman Chen Mingde. China, however, does not plan to increase its reserves to levels currently adopted by many developed countries, that is, stockpile equivalent to 90 days of oil imports, Chen said during a panel discussion.
Updated: April 23, 2007
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