Official: Iran rejects US demand to halt atom work

Aide to Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmedinejad says his country has no intention of halting its nuclear program, says there are 'no non-peaceful activities to suspend'

Reuters|Published: 01.28.09 , 19:37

Iran will not halt sensitive nuclear work as demanded by US President Barack Obama's administration, a close aide to President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said on Wednesday.

The new administration has said Obama would break from his predecessor by pursuing direct talks with Tehran but has also warned Iran to expect more pressure if it did not meet the UN Security Council demand to halt uranium enrichment.

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Adviser to the president Aliakbar Javanfekr told Reuters Iran had no intention of stopping its nuclear activities, which the United States and other Western powers suspect are a front to build nuclear arms.

"We have no non-peaceful activities to suspend. All our activities are peaceful and under the supervision of the IAEA," he said in an interview in government offices in Tehran.

Asked about UN resolutions demanding Iran suspend uranium enrichment, he said: "We have passed that stage. We have rejected resolutions. Those resolutions were issued under US pressure. We work in the framework of international laws."

"Obama should act realistically to avoid repeating (George W.) Bush's mistakes," he added.

Three rounds of UN sanctions have been imposed on Iran for not stopping and the Bush administration had sought a fourth. Iran has repeatedly dismissed the impact of sanctions, and Javanfekr echoed this by saying sanctions were "ineffective".

Analysts say the measures are making it more costly for Iranian firms to do business and deterring foreign investors.

Obama's administration has said it would use "all elements of our national power" to address concerns about Iran's nuclear program and has not ruled out military action if needed. Iran says it is prepared to defend the country if attacked.

Neither Obama nor his top aides have said exactly how they may approach Iran. Obama said in his first formal television interview that Washington was prepared to extend a hand of peace if Iran "unclenched its fist".

Javanfekr responded saying: "This is illogical to talk about unclenching fists when Iran is surrounded by American troops in Afghanistan and Iraq."

Ahmadinejad said on Wednesday Iran would welcome Obama's offer of a change in US policy but said it must involve withdrawing US troops stationed abroad and an apology for past "crimes" against Iran. "America has always extended a clenched fist towards Iran... If America unclenches its fist Iran will extend a hand of cooperation towards America," he added.