Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad mocked opponents of his country's nuclear program on Thursday, saying they were suffering from mental problems, Iran's student news agency ISNA said.
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"Those who are saddened by the progress and happiness of others suffer from mental and psychological problems, so they should find a way to cure themselves," Ahmadinejad said in a speech in the town of Zarandiyeh in central Iran.
Since his election last year, the hardline president has needled critics of Iran's nuclear program, raising tensions with the United States and the EU.
"We do not have a fight with anyone, but we will not step down in insisting on our absolute rights," Ahmadinejad said. He added that billions of people in the world support Iran's right to nuclear technology.
"More than two billion people were happy and celebrated when they heard the news about Iran's nuclear achievement," Ahmadinejad said.
Britain, France and Germany plan to offer Iran a package of incentives to induce Tehran to freeze a uranium enrichment program that the West suspects has military dimensions.
Ahmadinejad turned down the
expected European incentives in return for halting uranium enrichment, saying it was like trading "candy for gold."
An EU trio of Britain, France and Germany want to offer Iran security guarantees as a key incentive to freeze its nuclear enrichment program.
The European offer will be discussed in detail at a meeting of senior EU, US, Russian and Chinese officials next week in London.
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