Special Report: Iran Nuclear Crisis
 |
| Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
speaks during a ceremony to commemorate the anniversary of death of Iran's
late Leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini in Tehran June 3, 2006.
(Xinhua/Reuters) |
TEHRAN,
June 3 (Xinhua) -- Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad reiterated on Saturday
the country's absolute right to enrich uranium that will not be discussed with
anyone.
"Nuclear technology, particularly the production of nuclear fuel, is part of
our absolute rights," Ahmadinejad said in a televised address, adding that "we
will not discuss these rights with anyone."
As for the new proposals offered by six world powers
in a bid to persuade Tehran to halt the nuclear program, the Iranian president
said "we will wait to see these proposals before taking a decision that is in
our national interests."
The five permanent members of the UN Security Council
and Germany made an offer to Iran in Vienna on Thursday, aimed at persuading
Iran to meet the international demands to halt its uranium enrichment.
The Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki
disclosed earlier on Saturday that the European Union (EU) foreign policy chief
Javier Solana will visit Tehran soon to present the new proposal without giving
a schedule.
The proposal includes both incentives and penalties
to Iran if it suspended uranium enrichment to pave the way for negotiations. But
no details about the incentives have been unveiled.
On Friday, Ahmadinejad also vowed that "pressure of some Western countries to
force Iran to abandon its right (to nuclear technology) will not get a result."
U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice offered on
Wednesday that Washington would join European countries in talks with Iran if
Tehran suspends enrichment.
But Iran insisted that the country will not accept
any precondition for talks with Washington.
The United States and European countries claim that
Iran is using its civilian nuclear program as a cover to produce nuclear
weapons.
Tehran has repeatedly denied the charge, saying its
nuclear program is merely to generate electricity, not bombs. Iran has
repeatedly said that it will not give up its right under the nuclear
Non-Proliferation Treaty to enrich uranium and produce nuclear fuel for power
plant. Enditem