An Iranian official on Monday announced that nuclear talks with Russia have not been cancelled, but that future talks await a mutually agreed date to be chosen. He added that Iran would proceed with its nuclear work as planned, regardless of the timing of the International Atomic Energy Agency.
Iranian spokesman Gholam-Hossein Elham addressed reporters at his weekly press conference, saying, "The important matter is that Russia's (nuclear) proposal should be based on policies of the Islamic Republic of Iran taking into account changes in circumstances and the government's determination to enrich uranium for peaceful purposes inside Iranian territory."
"An agenda that includes following up of earlier negotiations and a date for talks should be agreed by the two sides," he added, according to IRNA.
Elham added that Iran would not wait for the next session of the International Atomic Energy Agency's Board of Governors before proceeding in its nuclear program.
"The Islamic Republic of Iran is determined to use nuclear technology for peaceful purposes. The Iranian Atomic Energy Organization is following and implementing a decree issued by President (Mahmoud Ahmadinejad) in this regard," he said.
"The government's decision is irreversible," he added.
Elham also referred to recent US pressure on it to cease its nuclear activity as leading to a "dead end," adding that such pressures were not new to Iran.
"The US has used all illegal and illegitimate ways over the past 27 years to achieve its objectives. The tested are being re-tested which shows the US' lack of wisdom," he said.
"If the Islamic Republic of Iran were to yield to those pressures, there would be nothing left of the Islamic Revolution by now," he added.
He stressed that Iran supports continued talks regarding the matter, saying, "Iran has repeatedly announced it favors logic and dialogue (to settle the dispute) based on legal and international regulations."
"But it will not surrender to bullying by any country, whether on the issue of talks or pressure.
© 2006 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
