AP INTERVIEW

Iran speaker eyes surplus uranium

[October 09, 2013]  GENEVA (AP) -- Iranian Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani says Iran has more enriched uranium than it needs and plans to use that as a bargaining chip at nuclear talks in Geneva next week.

Larijani says his nation has "some surplus, you know, the amount that we don't need" of uranium enriched to nearly 20 percent for energy, research and isotopes for medical treatments.

He said in an Associated Press interview Wednesday "over that we can have some discussions" when Western powers try to persuade Iran to curtail activities they say can lead to weapons-grade uranium.

Iran plans to negotiate over its nuclear program next week in Geneva with the U.S., Russia, China, Britain, France and Germany.

Larijani spoke on the sidelines of a meeting of the world organization of parliaments.

[Associated Press]

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