Tehran: Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said on Thursday that Iran was ready to discuss "mutual concerns" over its controversial nuclear program but claimed that the West gave in to Iran.
Ahmadinejad did not say whether Iran accepts a Western package of incentives aimed at enticing Iran to suspend uranium enrichment to open the way for negotiations with the United States and Europe.
"On behalf of the Iranian nation, I am announcing that the nation will never hold negotiations about its definite rights with anybody but we are for talks about mutual concerns to resolve misunderstandings in the international arena," Ahmadinejad told thousands of people in Qazvin, west of the capital Tehran.
Ahmadinejad did not specifically say if Iran would entirely accept a package of Western incentives presented to Iran on Tuesday aimed at persuading Iran to suspend its uranium enrichment program.
Iran's initial reaction to the package was relatively upbeat with Iran's top nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani saying the proposals included "positive steps" and "ambiguities that need to be cleared up."
Ahmadinejad did not specifically comment on the incentives. Tehran has said that it will only announce its position after carefully studying the package.
"International monopolists (the US and its allies) have been defeated in the face of your resistance and solidarity and have been forced to acknowledge your dignity and greatness," Ahmadinejad told the crowd.
The US and its European allies had earlier insisted that Iran permanently give up its uranium enrichment program to clear up fears that it may use its nuclear program to build nuclear bomb. The new proposal only requires suspending enrichment.
PAGE_BREAK
Ahmadinejad insisted on Thursday that Iran will never give up its legitimate rights under Non Proliferation Treaty (NPT) to produce nuclear fuel.
"(Our) enemies must know that whether the Iranian nation is going to hold talks or not, whether you frown (at us) or not, the Iranian nation will not retreat from the path of progress and obtaining advanced technology one iota," Ahmadinejad said
Despite his tough talk, there was no indication that Ahmadinejad was dismissing the Western package. Instead, he said dialogue should be fair and free from threats.
"That some would think to hold talks about our independence, sovereignty rights and our fate, they should know they are gravely mistaken," he said.
"Negotiations should be held in a fair atmosphere and on the basis of equality. If they (the US and its allies) think they can threaten and hold a stick over Iran's head and offer negotiations at the same time, they should know the Iranian nation will definitely reject such an atmosphere. Such an atmosphere won't create a minimum opportunity for talks," he told the rally.
The United States and other Western nations suspect Iran's nuclear program is intended to produce weapons. Tehran insists it is only for generating electricity.
In a major policy shift, the United States agreed last week to join France, Britain and Germany in talks with Iran, provided Tehran suspends all suspect nuclear activities.
It would be the first major public negotiations between Washington and Tehran in more than 25 years.
Comments
0 comment