Iran said on Saturday the European Union’s proposals for incentives in return for a suspension of Iranian nuclear fuel work were unacceptable.
"The Europeans’ submitted proposals regarding the nuclear case are not acceptable for Iran,” the official IRNA news agency quoted Foreign Ministry Spokesman Hamid Reza Asefi as saying.
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| U.S. backs Iran civilian nuke program / By Reuters |
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EU proposal to allow Tehran to pursue atomic power in exchange for giving up fuel work; Washington believes EU offer has enough safeguards to prevent Iran diverting its civilian work into making nuclear bombs |
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“The proposals are unacceptable because Iran’s right to enrich uranium is not included,” hee said. Asefi said Iran would give a full answer to the EU’s proposals on Saturday or Sunday.
The EU on Friday offered Iran a package of incentives for it to give up nuclear fuel work, but also called an urgent meeting of the U.N. Nuclear watchdog that could refer Tehran to the U.N. Security Council for sanctions.
The EU - represented by Britain, France and Germany - has been trying to find a compromise for two years between arch foes Iran and the United States.
Washington accuses Iran of trying to covertly build a nuclear bomb, but Tehran denies the charge and says it has the right to convert and enrich uranium for power generation.
"I should say the Europeans have not honored their committments,” Asefi said. “We have repeatedly said that any proposal should include Iran’s right to enrichment."
‘Iranian nation cannot be intimidated’
Also on Saturday, Iran’s new President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said the Islamic Republic, facing intense pressure from the West over its nuclear ambitions, would not be intimidated.
Taking the oath of office in parliament following his stunning June election win, the former Tehran mayor said his priority would be to tackle unemployment and his foreign policy would seek to reduce international threats.
"We are logical and respect international rules, but will not give in to those who want to violate our rights,” he said in a brief address. “The Iranian nation cannot be intimidated."
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