Iran rules out talks on its nuclear rights

Source/Full Story @: Reuters

Iran’s president snubbed on Monday U.S. President Barack Obama’s end-September deadline to talk to world powers on its disputed nuclear program, saying in his opinion discussion on the issue is “finished.”

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said the Islamic Republic was ready for dialogue on “challenges” facing the world but made clear Tehran would not back down in a dispute over atomic activities which the West fears are aimed at making bombs.

“From our view point (discussion of) our nuclear issue is finished … we will never negotiate on the Iranian nation’s obvious rights,” he told his first news conference since he was sworn into office following a disputed re-election in June.

In Vienna, U.N. nuclear watchdog chief Mohamed ElBaradei said his agency was stuck in “stalemate” with Iran over issues that had stirred international mistrust in its nuclear designs.

Elbaradei’s renewed highlighting of the deadlock may be timely for Western powers striving to persuade Russia and China of the need for much harsher sanctions against Iran that could target its gasoline imports.

The West suspects Iran is pursuing the means to produce atomic bombs behind the facade of a civilian nuclear program. Iran says its purpose is only to make electricity.

Technorati Tags: Ahmadinejad, Elbaradei

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