Iran Won't Budge on Nukes
CNN reports:
(CNN) -- Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is taking a hard line ahead of nuclear talks scheduled for next month with world powers skeptical of his government's intentions, local media reported Sunday.
Ahmadinejad said that Iran is ready to hold talks, but warned that his country won't yield any of its international rights to peaceful nuclear energy development, according to the reports.
"Holding talks with Iran is the best choice for you," Ahmadinejad was quoted by state-run Press TV as saying at a rally in Ardebil in northwestern Iran Sunday. "You have no other option. All the other ways are closed. You know the fact very well,"
The United States and other world powers fear Iran is developing a nuclear program for military purposes. Iran has denied those allegations.
"You should make it clear that what is your aim of negotiations, friendship or hostility? Do you want to follow logic or law or issue resolution and make threat?" the semi-official Iran Student's News Agency quoted Ahmadinejad as saying. He added that Western powers should also pressure Israel over its undeclared but widely-suspected nuclear capability, ISNA said.
Last month, Ahmadinejad said an Iranian representative would meet with the "P5 plus one" group. The group is made up of the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council -- the United States, Britain, France, China and Russia -- along with Germany.
Nuclear talks between Iran and the six powers have been stalled since October 1, 2009, when the two groups last met in Geneva.
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