Ahmadinejad says West has “backed down” on nuclear dossier
Washington, 13 August (IranVNC)—Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said today that Western powers have backed down on their earlier stance on Iran’s nuclear program, as they are now demanding only a freeze to the installation of new uranium enriching centrifuges.
By: IranVNC
Published: Wednesday, August 13, 2008
12:27GMT—8:27AM/EST
IRAN – NUCLEAR – AHMADINEJAD
Washington, 13 August (IranVNC)—Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said today that Western powers have backed down on their earlier stance on Iran’s nuclear program, as they are now demanding only a freeze to the installation of new uranium enriching centrifuges.
“Today, their [Western powers’] anxiety is maintaining their position, and because of this they insist that, even if for show, Iran should suspend uranium enrichment for a few months,” Ahmadinejad was quoted by the official IRNA news agency as saying.
Western powers are locked in a dispute over Iran’s controversial nuclear program, which they suspect Tehran is using to develop nuclear weapons. The six major powers – the U.S., UK, France, Germany, Russia and China – have proposed a “freeze-for-freeze” agreement, under which they would freeze further moves towards additional United Nations sanctions if Iran freezes additional uranium enrichment activities.
“Today, instead of 20 centrifuges, there are several thousand working centrifuges in Iran,” Ahmadinejad said, adding that Western powers said before that it would take Iran ten years of negotiation with them to obtain 20 centrifuges.
Iran has rejected international demands that it suspend its uranium enrichment activities, calling it their right under the Nuclear non-Proliferation Treaty. This refusal has led to three rounds of UN Security Council sanctions against the country.
“The nuclear issue was a test for Iran and a foundation for the pride of the Iranian nation and a checkmate for the corrupt world powers,” the Iranian president said.
The U.S., UK, France and Germany are considering placing additional sanctions against Tehran that would go beyond any UN resolution. The four expressed disappointment last week after Iran failed to provide a favorable response to demands that it should halt uranium enrichment work.
Source: IRNA in Persian
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