Mahmoud Ahmadinejad: No suspension of uranium enrichment, Iran to insist

Tehran - Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Iran would insist on its own position in this week's nuclear talks with European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana and definitely not accept any suspension of uranium enrichment, the website of state television network IRIB reported Tuesday.

"We will emphasize on our own proposals in the talks and will in no way accept the precondition of (uranium enrichment) suspension," Ahmadinejad said.

EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana and chief nuclear negotiator Saeid Jalili are scheduled to meet Saturday in Geneva to discuss Iran's response to new incentives by the five UN Security Council veto powers and Germany.

Ahmadinejad, however, rejected the main demand in the incentive package by the world powers, which was enrichment suspension.

"The scenario of the latest incentives by the world powers (suspension) has reached a dead-end and they (5+1) themselves have noticed this," the president said.

Instead, Ahmadinejad wants the Iranian proposal package to dominate the Geneva talks.

"The Iranian proposal package contains global issues, is based on justice in the world, aims at removing international concerns, seeks nuclear disarmament and securing regional and world security," he said.

Ahmadinejad added that Saturday's talks would focus on the common points of the two sides and set a timetable to settle the issue.

The West fears the nuclear programme is geared towards making weapons, but Iran says it is for peaceful purposes to generate electricity for its growing population. (dpa)

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