Special Report: Iran Nuclear Crisis

    TEHRAN, Aug. 12 (Xinhua) -- Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Hassan Qashqavi Tuesday said Iran intends to continue nuclear talks with the West in a "constructive" atmosphere, the Press TV satellite channel reported.

    Both Iran and the West are interested in continuing their negotiations, Qashqavi told a press conference in Tehran.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad looks on as he waits for his Algerian counterpart Abdelaziz Bouteflika in Tehran Aug. 11, 2008. Ahmadinejad vowed Monday that Tehran will never give up its nuclear program despite the risk of fresh sanctions, the state-run TV's website reported. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    Qashqavi said a telephone conversation between Iran's top nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili and EU Foreign Policy Chief Javier Solana was "friendly", adding that their talk was "positive proof" that both sides were willing to pursue talks in a constructive manner.

    He said Iran's concerns over the transparency of the West's package should be addressed and hammered out during the meetings with the West.

    Qashqavi said Iran insists on its nuclear rights, and the mutual concerns and questions of both sides should be taken into consideration.

    On Monday, Jalili and Solana agreed in a telephone conversation to continue nuclear talks on Iran's controversial nuclear program.

    Their talks came after six major countries recently agreed to consider new sanctions against Iran in the wake of remarks by Western governments saying Iran failed to give a "clear positive response" to their latest offer of incentives.

    Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad vowed later on Monday that Tehran will never give up its nuclear program despite the risk of fresh sanctions.

    The EU issued a decree Friday to consider fresh UN Security Council sanctions against Iran over its controversial nuclear program.

    The EU presidency decreed that its financial institutions must exercise restraint on export credits to Iran and that its 27 member states inspect Iran-bound cargoes.

    On June 14, Solana handed the offer of incentives to the Iranian authorities on behalf of France, Britain, Russia, China, the United States and Germany during his visit to Tehran in a bid to persuade Iran to halt uranium enrichment.

    Iran has also presented its own package of proposals, which is aimed to help resolve regional and international problems, including Iran's nuclear issue.

 

President: Tehran never gives up nuclear program

    TEHRAN, Aug. 11 (Xinhua) -- Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad vowed Monday that Tehran will never give up its nuclear program despite the risk of fresh sanctions, the state-run TV's website reported.

    Ahmadinejad made the remarks in a meeting with his Algerian counterpart Abdelaziz Bouteflika who are in Tehran for visit, according to the report. Full story

Iran, EU to continue nuclear talks 

    TEHRAN, Aug. 11 (Xinhua) -- Iran's top nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili and EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana agreed in a telephone conversation on Monday to continue nuclear talks on Iran's disputable nuclear program, state TV reported.

    Both sides expressed their satisfaction over the constructive process of Geneva talks and the following contacts, the report said. Full story

Iran not to change nuclear stance

    TEHRAN, Aug. 10 (Xinhua) -- Iran's government spokesman Gholam-Hossein Elham said Sunday that Iran's nuclear stance will not be changed by sanctions or threats.

    "Iran's nuclear stance is strong and transparent and this stance would not change through any sanction or threat," Elham told reporters after a cabinet session, adding, "We still believe that the nuclear talks are progressing." Full story

Chairman: New sanctions on Iran will harm West

    TEHRAN, Aug. 9 (Xinhua) -- Chairman of National Security and Foreign Policy Commission of Iran's parliament, Alaeddin Boroujerdi, said Saturday that imposing new sanctions on the Islamic Republic will harm the West, the official IRNA news agency reported. Full story

Rice warns of more sanctions against Iran

    WASHINGTON, Aug. 7 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice reiterated on Thursday that Iran will face more sanctions if it fails to give an adequate response to the latest incentives package by the six major powers. Full story

German FM: Iran's response to nuclear offer "insufficient"

    BERLIN, Aug. 6 (Xinhua) -- Germany on Wednesday rejected Iran's response to an offer of negotiations over its nuclear program, saying the response is "insufficient."

    "The (German) government finds the response sent yesterday (Tuesday) by Iran to the comprehensive offer ... insufficient," German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said in a statement. Full story

U.S. sees Iran's response to incentive package as 'disappointing'

    UNITED NATIONS, Aug. 6 (Xinhua) -- Iran's response to an incentive package offered by the United States and five other nations is "disappointing," said Alejandro Wolff, the U.S. deputy ambassador to the United Nations, on Wednesday.

    "This is a nonresponsive, disappointing response," said Wolff, speaking to reporters after a meeting of the Security Council. Full story

Report: Iran responses to 5+1 package

    TEHRAN, Aug. 5 (Xinhua) -- Iranian Ambassador to Brussels Ali-Asghar Khaji on Tuesday handed in Tehran's written response to the 5+1 package of incentives to EU officials, the semi-official Fars News Agency reported.

    The report did not give further details about Iran's reply, which has not yet been verified by Iranian official sources. Full story