Thursday, August 4 2005 10:59 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Isfahan (Iran): Iran's chief nuclear negotiator yesterday (August 3, 2005) said that the country would push back the reopening of its uranium conversion plant here until early next week.

Hasan Rowhani said he would grant the United Nation's nuclear watchdog agency the time it has requested to install surveillance equipment inside the Isfahan nuclear facility, which should be completed by early next week.

The move could help resolve tensions between Tehran and European negotiators, who want the suspension kept in place until Tehran receives a package of incentives from Europe, its release is scheduled for Sunday (August 7, 2005). The Iranian week begins on a Saturday.

Iran had declared on Monday (August 1, 2005) that the plant would reopen by yesterday (August 3, 2005).

"The IAEA asked for a week to put the surve two letters to IAEA chief Mohammed ElBaradei asking him to expedite the agency's installation of monitoring cameras inside the Isfahan plant.

Rowhani said Iran is prepared to resume converting uranium into gas form, the feedstock for uranium enrichment.

Highly enriched uranium can be used to make weapons, while uranium enriched to lower levels is used to produce energy.

"Our experts are fully prepared in Isfahan to resume activities as soon as the formalities are finished,'' Rowhani said, "This will be done in less than a week.''