Will share atomic technology with others: Iran

Tehran, Apr 25: Iran is ready to share its nuclear technology with other countries, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said after talks today with the visiting Sudanese president, state television reported.

Iran is embroiled in a nuclear standoff with the West, which fears Tehran is secretly developing atomic weapons which could be transferred to terrorist groups or spark an arms race in the Middle East.

Iran insists it only wants nuclear technology for peaceful purposes, such as producing electricity.

''The nuclear strength of the Iranian scientists is an example of several scientific currents in Iran that are going ahead, and the Islamic Republic of Iran is ready to transfer the experience, science and technology of its scientists,'' state television quoted Khamenei as saying.

He was speaking after talks with visiting Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir.

Iranian lawmaker Kamal Daneshyar, head of parliament's energy committee, was also quoted in the daily Aftab-e Yazd as saying Iran was prepared to train other Islamic states in skills, such as enriching uranium.

''Iranian nuclear scientists can easily train other Islamic countries in uranium enrichment and nuclear fuel production,'' he was quoted as saying.

The United Nations has demanded that the Tehran halt uranium enrichment, which can produce fuel for power stations or, if uranium is enriched to far higher level, material for bombs.

Iran says it will continue its enrichment work and will pursue industrial-scale production.

The U.N. nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), is due to report to the UN Security Council by Friday on whether Iran is complying with UN demands.

REUTERS