Iran can make the bomb, but doesn't want to: Iranian official

MOSCOW (AFP) — Iran has the capacity to produce nuclear weapons but does not intend doing so, a senior Iranian official said.

"We do not intend making nuclear weapons," said Ali Akbar Soltan, deputy director-general of Iran's foreign ministry political department.

The IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) in Vienna has set a November 25 deadline for Iran to suspend uranium enrichment activities and answer all questions about its nuclear ambitions.

The United States alleges Iran is secretly trying to develop nuclear weapons, a charge Iran denies.

"If we had had such an intention, we would have done so a long time ago because Iran has the capacity to do so, especially talented scientists," Soltani told an international conference here.

"But we are interested only in nuclear power for peaceful purposes," Interfax news agency quoted him as saying.

Last month, Russia called on Iran to ease international concerns about ...