WORLD / Middle East
Iran: Sanctions threat a 'rusty' weapon
(AP)
Updated: 2006-10-09 11:34
TEHRAN, Iran - Iran called the threat of international sanctions over its
disputed nuclear program a "rusty" weapon and repeated Sunday that it
would not abandon uranium enrichment.
The six countries at the center of efforts to persuade Iran to drop
uranium enrichment - a key step toward making nuclear weapons said Friday
they have agreed to pursue possible sanctions.
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad clenches his fist during a public
gathering in the city of Karaj, 21 miles (35 kilometers) west of the
capital Tehran, Iran, Thursday, Sept. 28, 2006. A top European Union
negotiator said Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2006 that 'endless hours' of talks
with Iran about its nuclear program have failed to make any progress,
while the Iranian president said U.N. sanctions would not stop Tehran
from enriching uranium. [AP]
However, all five permanent security council members - the U.S., France,
Britain, Russia and China along with Germany stopped short of demanding
Iran be punished by the U.N. Security Council.
"Both officials and people in Iran have always viewed threats of
sanctions as a rusty and derelict weapon," Foreign Ministry spokesman
Mohammad Ali Hosseini said at a weekly news briefing. "They are
accustomed to the threats."
However, Hosseini said Iran does not "welcome sanctions" and that they
would damage both Iran and the countries that impose them.
Although he reiterated Iran's determination to continue enriching
uranium, Hosseini said "negotiation is the best way."
He said Iran will resume negotiations with European nations, talks that
are seen as a final attempt to avoid a full-blown confrontation between
Tehran and the Security Council. Hosseini did not offer specifics on the
talks, such as when they might begin.
In September, European Union envoy Javier Solana and Iranian envoy Ali
Larijani ended two days of talks in Berlin with no agreement on the
enrichment issue. They insisted, however, that they had made progress on
ways to open broader discussions.
Those talks came after Iran ignored an Aug. 31 deadline to suspend
uranium enrichment or face punishment.
President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Sunday told a cabinet meeting: "Some
bullying powers, applying intimidation and threats, intend to confront
Iran's nuclear rights but our nation has strongly and smartly resisted,"
according to state television.
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