Iranian government spokesman Gholam Hossein Elham said in Tehran
yesterday that the country would not stop its disputed uranium
enrichment activities.
"We are prepared to talk about anything in negotiations, (but)
there should not be any preconditions," Elham told reporters,
referring to the demands by six world powers that Iran suspends its
uranium enrichment work first and gets in return for some
incentives.
"Everyone's rights must be respected in negotiations, and it
also must be pursued with equality and understanding," said the
spokesman, adding suspending the nuclear work could bring
"inequity" to Iran.
Meanwhile, Elham stressed that the Islamic Republic "still
believes the proposals handed by Europeans a good chance to resolve
the nuclear issue through dialogue and diplomacy."
The EU big three -- France, Britain and Germany -- introduced
last Thursday a draft resolution on the Iranian nuclear issue to
the UN Security Council, calling on Iran to suspend all
enrichment-related activities.
The US and some of its allies have accused Iran of working on
highly enriched uranium and plutonium which are essential materials
for making nuclear weapons, while Tehran has insisted on its right
to develop a peaceful nuclear program aimed at generating
electricity only.
On June 6, EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana presented Iran
with a package concerning the Iranian nuclear issue, which was
agreed on by the five permanent members of the UN Security Council
plus Germany.
The proposal includes both incentives aimed at persuading Iran
to suspend uranium enrichment and possible sanctions if Iran does
not comply.
Frustrated by Iran's refrain from giving an official response to
the offer sooner, the six countries agreed on July 12 to return
Iran's nuclear issue to the UN Security Council.
The move drew a strong reaction from the Iranian government.
Iran's top officials have warned that Iran would revise cooperation
with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and may quit the
Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) if the West is not sincere on the
nuclear issue.
(Xinhua News Agency July 25, 2006)
