Iran Cautiously Welcomes U.S. Nuclear Talks Offer
Nji Che - All Headline News Contributor Tehran, Iran (AHN) - The Iranian Foreign Minister on Thursday said his country was ready to hold nuclear talks with the U.S., but insisted Tehran will continue with its Uranium enrichment. Manouchehr Mottaki was speaking after he earlier spurned a conditional U.S. offer for direct nuclear talks with Tehran. Earlier on Thursday, Mottaki said, "We will not give up our nation's natural right, we will not hold talks over it. But we are ready to hold talks over mutual concerns." Mottaki's statements came a day after Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice made the conditional offer. She said the U.S. was ready for nuclear talks with Tehran, but insisted it must first suspend its nuclear program. Washington took the step towards peaceful negotiations as Major European and global powers strive to adopt a package of concessions, to persuade Tehran to abandon its nuclear program. President George W. Bush told reporters hours after Iran welcomed the talks proposal, "The choice is up to the Iranians," if they fail to suspend the ongoing Uranium enrichment program, they will face the U.N. Security Council. While western powers suspect Iran has plans to build nuclear weapons, Tehran has ruled out any atomic ambitions. It claims it intends to enrich Uranium to generate power for commercial use. Over the last few months, Iranian leaders have fought a battle of words with western |
