Iran will never hold talks with the United States unless a tangible shift in Washington's behavior toward Iran is observed, a foreign ministry official told IRNA on Wednesday. The foreign ministry official rejected a Financial Times (FT) report over negotiation between Tehran and Washington on Iranian nuclear program.
"Iran has explained thoroughly its transparent nuclear program to the international community," he said. The London-based FT said on Tuesday that Iran and the US would hold direct negotiations on Iranian nuclear program.
Meanwhile, Iran's President Mohammad Khatami said his country's defense strategy has no place for nuclear weapons, as he insisted that Tehran was looking for "peaceful nuclear technology".
"I frankly say that there is absolutely no place in Iran's defense strategy to acquire nuclear arms. We are in fact asking the world and the region to get rid of such weapons," Khatami told Wednesday's edition of the Saudi daily Al-Watan.
"Acquiring nuclear technology does not mean having nuclear arms," he said. "What Iran has obtained through its own capabilities ... is an introduction to peaceful nuclear technology."
The president accused the United States of launching an unjustified campaign against Iran's nuclear program. "The clamour that was launched is unreal. The whole issue is political. They are aware we have no nuclear arms, nor we are seeking to acquire it," said Khatami.
"We are accurately coordinating with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to remove fears of other countries, but we will not bow to the American campaign." (Albawaba.com)
© 2003 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
