(Itar-Tass) - Teheran dismisses the demand it should suspend uranium enrichment as a precondition on which the United States might join face-to-face talks on the nuclear problem, the press-secretary of the Iranian parliaments commission for national security and foreign policy, Kazem Jalali, said in response to Wednesdays statements by U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.
This precondition the U.S. Secretary of State established for joining talks with Iran is unacceptable. The Islamic Republic has said more than once that it will not abdicate its rights in the nuclear sphere, the Iranian legislator said in an interview on the satellite television channel Al-Alam. At the same time he said one might positively assess the United States readiness to negotiate.
It would be far better, if Condoleezza Rice were more explicit and articulate and sounded this message regarding the Iranian nuclear problem before the bitter experience of Irans negotiations with the European troika, which failed to honor its pledges, Jalali said, reports Trend.
Condoleezza Rice said at the State Department on Wednesday to underscore our commitment to a diplomatic solution and to enhance prospects for success, as soon as Iran fully and verifiably suspends its enrichment and reprocessing activities, the United States will come to the table.
The official Iranian news agency IRNA has said in a commentary Rices statement was a propaganda move.
It is nakedly clear that … such a suspension does not meet the interests of our country, IRNA said. In view of the Iranian authorities determination to go ahead with the enrichment of uranium Rices statement can be regarded as propaganda.
Earlier, Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki, when asked if Iran had any intention of resuming direct talks with the United States over the issue, said that at this point we have suspended all direct contacts with America, but when it changes its behavior, we shall probably return to this question.