Agence France-Presse,
Tehran (AFP): Iran on Tuesday said it sees “no reason for negotiation” over its nuclear programme if the European Union continues to insist that Tehran suspend its uranium enrichment activities. A day before Iran's top nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani and EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana meet for key talks in Turkey, the government spokesman warned the bloc against making “illogical demands”.
“We took a legal path for the progress of the country and we are seeking legitimate technology which cannot be stopped or turned back,” said government spokesman Gholam Hossein Elham.
“There is no reason to do so,” he told reporters, when asked if Larijani would offer a suspension during the talks with Solana.
“These requests are not based on logic and law and there is no reason to pursue it in a logical dialogue.
“If they are seeking something illogical, then there is no reason for dialogue and negotiation because negotiation should be within the framework of law and logic,” he warned.
“The dialogue should be based on international regulations and not based on force because then you cannot call it negotiations,” he said.
The sensitivity of enriched uranium lies in the fact the substance can be used both to make nuclear fuel and, in highly enriched form, the explosive core of a nuclear bomb. Iran insists it only wants to produce civilian energy.
