Iran Condemns Nuclear Settlement Threats
Nji Che - All Headline News Contributor Tehran, Iran (AHN) - Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad vowed on Thursday that his country would not surrender itself to threats during nuclear negotiations with the west, but he admitted Iran was ready to explain its position to the world. Reuters quotes Ahmadinejad as saying on Iranian TV, "If they (the international community) think they can threaten and hang a stick over the head of the Iranian nation and negotiate at the same time, they should know the Iranian nation will reject such an atmosphere." In his televised speech, the Iranian leader said negotiations should take place in a fair atmosphere free of any pressures. Earlier this week, Iran received a pack of incentives from western nations designed to persuade it to abandon its uranium enrichment program. It welcomed the initiative, but maintained it would continue enrichment while nuclear negotiations continue on the table. Russian Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov told reporters on Wednesday the incentives required Iran to stop enrichment before negotiation begins. He added that the U.N. Security Council would not meet on Iran unless it abandons nuclear settlement talks. However, Lavrov said Russia was not considering sanctions on Iran, except it breached the nuclear non-proliferation treaty. Iran is expected to come up with its response by the end of June.
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