Special report: Iran nuclear crisis

    

Iran's Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki speaks to journalists in Tehran, June 1, 2006. (Xinhua/AFP photo)

TEHRAN, June 1 (Xinhua) -- Iran on Thursday refused any precondition for talks with the United States over its controversial nuclear issue, the official IRNA news agency reported.

    "We believe that under current circumstances, negotiations without any precondition would be best solution to put an end to Tehran-Washington logjam," Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Hamid-Reza Asefi was quoted as saying.

    The refusal came in response to U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice's remarks on Wednesday that Washington would join European countries in talks with Iran if Tehran suspends enrichment.

    There would be no obstacle for talks with the United States on an equal footing, Asefi said, adding that Iran can not overlook its legitimate rights entitled by the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).

    Earlier in the day, Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki welcomed possible direct talks with Washington but rejected a U.S.demand that Tehran must suspend uranium enrichment as precondition.

     "Iran welcomes dialogue under just conditions, but we won'tgive up our nuclear rights," Mottaki reiterated.

     "We won't negotiate about the nation's natural nuclear rights but we are prepared, within a defined, just framework and without any discrimination, to hold a dialogue about common concerns,"Mottaki said.

    The top Iranian diplomat said that there was no evidence that Iran's enrichment activity had deviated from peaceful aims so Iran would continue enriching uranium.

    The United States and European countries claim that Iran isusing its civilian nuclear program as a cover to produce nuclear weapons.

    But Tehran has repeatedly denied the charge, saying its nuclear program is merely to generate electricity, not bombs.

    Five permanent members of the UN Security Council -- Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States -- plus Germany, are currently meeting in Vienna over a new European package of incentives if Tehran suspends uranium enrichment and possible sanctions if it continues.

    Iran has repeatedly said that it will not give up its right under the NPT to enrich uranium and produce nuclear fuel for power plant. Enditem