Region | Iran

Iran rules out enrichment freeze at nuclear talks

Iranian officials rule out any freeze in uranium enrichment at the start of talks over its disputed nuclear programme.

  • Agencies
  • Published: 17:10 July 19, 2008
  • Gulf News

  • EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana welcomes Iran's chief nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili before their talks on nuclear issues in Geneva, Switzerland.
  • Image Credit: AP
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Geneva: Iranian officials ruled out any freeze in uranium enrichment on Saturday at the start of talks over Tehran's nuclear programme.

Iran's ambassador to Switzerland said Iran would not accept a freeze. "It is not in Iran's agenda to discuss this issue," Keyvan Imani told reporters.

"As our supreme leader (Ayatollah Ali Khamenei) clearly said, our path is very clear: We are not going to abandon our rights," Imani said.

Khamenei said on Wednesday Iran was ready to negotiate, but showed no sign of backing down on the Islamic Republic's refusal to halt atomic activities.

A Western diplomat confirmed that Saturday's talks in Geneva were "fine" but that the Iranians were unwilling to address suspending uranium enrichment, or freezing it.

"They are looking more at substantive issues that would be addressed in full negotiations," the official said.

Asked about the Iranian officials' rejection of suspension, EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana's spokeswoman Cristina Gallach said: "We have to wait…to see the Iranian position. We are ready to look at creative manners to allow negotiations to start in full agreement with the UN Security Council."

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