Iranian Majlis (parliament) Speaker Ali Larijani said Sunday that world powers should concentrate on Iran's inalienable nuclear rights in the upcoming negotiations, the official IRNA news agency reported.
In his speech at a formal session of the parliament, Larijani also rejected proposals made by certain members of the G5+1 to adopt intrusive inspections on Iran's nuclear program.
Such proposals had no legal base, said Larijani, who had been Iran's chief nuclear negotiator and secretary of the Supreme National Security Council from August 15, 2005 to October 20, 2007.
U.S. State Department acting spokesman Robert Wood said Wednesday that UN Security Council permanent members -- France, Britain, Russia, China and the United States -- plus Germany (G5+1) had invited Iran to join direct talks on its nuclear program.
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Thursday in the central city of Isfahan that his country would welcome "honest" and "fair" talks based on mutual respect.
He also inaugurated Iran's first nuclear fuel manufacturing plant and disclosed that it was running around 7,000 centrifuges at its uranium enrichment facility.
Iran's nuclear program is questioned by many parties. The United States and other western countries claim that Iran intends to secretly develop nuclear weapons. The UN Security Council also requires Iran to suspend its uranium enrichment activity.
Iran, however, insists that its nuclear plan is only for peaceful purposes, vowing to continue its uranium enrichment activity despite pressure and sanctions from western countries.
(Xinhua News Agency April 12, 2009)
