Iran rejects Russian call for halt to atomic work

TEHRAN, Apr 12 (Reuters) Iran today rejected a Russian call that it end its uranium enrichment work, saying its nuclear programme could not be stopped.

Iran yesterday said it had produced low-grade enriched uranium suitable for use in nuclear power stations, setting itself on a collision course with the West and UN Security Council which have called for a halt to its work on uranium.

Russia described yesterday's announcement as ''a step in the wrong direction'' but Iran held firm.

''Iran's nuclear activities are like a waterfall which has begun to flow. It cannot be stopped,'' a senior Iranian official told Reuters on condition of anonymity.

A Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman was quoted by the Itar-Tass news agency today saying Tehran should halt uranium enrichment.

Iran has been referred to the UN Security Council for failing to convince much of the international community that it is enriching uranium just for power stations and not branching into weapons.

Iran has traditionally regarded Moscow as a key nuclear ally and several officials in Tehran have confidently predicted that the UN Security Council will take no action against Iran because of Russia's veto.

Russia is helping Iran build its first its first nuclear power station at the Gulf port of Bushehr and a Russian firm is helping explore the Anaran oilfield in Western Iran.

REUTERS KD PM1416