No need for Iran to enrich uranium for nuclear energy: France

France sees no need for Iran to enrich uranium for nuclear energy after its first nuclear power plant at Bushehr was loaded with fuel Saturday, according to the Foreign Ministry.

The launch of the Russian-built plant shows there is no need for Iran to conduct uranium enrichment activities to produce civilian nuclear energy, the ministry said in a statement.

"It must restore the confidence of the international community by suspending sensitive activities that break Security Council resolutions," it said.

Iran and Russia started on Saturday to load fuel rods to a reactor at the Bushehr power plant under the supervision of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

"It shows that sanctions are not aimed at depriving Iran of its right to develop nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, provided that Iran respects its international obligations on non-proliferation," the ministry said.

The construction of the nuclear plant was begun in 1975 by German companies. After the United States imposed an embargo on hi-tech supplies to Iran following Iran's 1979 revolution, Russia signed a contract with Tehran in 1995 to complete the construction.

The United States and its Western allies are worried that Iran would use the uranium enrichment technology to make nuclear weapons, but Tehran has insisted its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes only.

Source: Xinhua