Ahmadi-Nejad: Iran to respond harshly to mere ideas of aggression
Iran-USA, Politics, 5/24/2006

Iranian spokesman Hamid Reza Asefi today referring to the recent claims made by the US President George W. Bush about Iran's nuclear activities stressed that Tehran has repeatedly announced its readiness to hold talks without any precondition.

White House spokesman Tony Snow yesterday sounded reconciliatory towards saying that if Iran would "renounce and in a verifiable and credible way any nuclear ambitions, and then we'll start talking about terms and conditions." He was not clear if nuclear ambition means civil or military or both.

Snow also said "We certainly support the efforts of our allies to make sure that the government of Iran renounces in a way that is verifiable any ambitions toward nuclear weapons and ceases the production of anything that could be used for nuclear weapons." His remarks seem to include Uranium enrichment, since these could be used for civilian or nuclear weapons as well, and Iran categorically rejects such a proposition as Iran insists on full rights to develop and make its own nuclear fuel on its own land to feed its electricity generating nuclear reactors.

Talking to parliamentary reporters on the sideline of an open session of Majlis, he said, "From the very beginning, we had announced that the issue should be settled only through negotiations." President Bush, addressing a press conference on Tuesday, said Washington's primary objective was to solve Iran's nuclear problem diplomatically.

Referring to profound differences between the international community and the US over Iran's peaceful nuclear activities, Asefi said Washington is trying to make all countries reach an agreement on Iran's nuclear activities through force and illogical interpretations.

He further reiterated, "As the Russians announced, negotiations should take place without any preconditions." On the Europeans' new proposal for settlement of Iran's nuclear issue, he said the proposal is to be set forth during today's meeting of the 5+1 Group and when finalized it will be announced to Iran.

Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadi-Nejad said today that even the mere thought of staging an aggression violating the rights of the Iranian nation will receive a stiff response from the nation.

"Enemies should know that they cannot inflict the slightest harm to Iranians from the outside and that is why they are trying to create discord among the people," said the president in his address before a huge crowd in this southern city.

The president is currently in Khorramshahr city for a short visit to attend celebrations marking the anniversary of the city's liberation from Iraqi troops in 1982.

"Those who have failed to block Iranians from achieving progress through pressure, conspiracies and misuse of international organizations have now launched a strategy of fomenting discord and disillusion among Iranians in order to prevent them from realizing their goals and enforcing their rights," Ahmadi-Nejad pointed out.

Saying Iranians "are on the eve of a great breakthrough," the president said "everyone has a responsibility to contribute to Iran's development and eventual rise as an advanced and powerful Islamic state." He urged the nation to stay vigilant, and stressed that "our people have successfully conquered the highest peak of scientific progress with their resistance and unity."

Previous Stories:
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  On the European nuclear offer to Iran   (5/20/2006)
  Ahmadi-Nejad: Nothing can stop Iran from nuclear right   (5/17/2006)
  Iraqi PM: Iraq not for threatening Iran   (5/12/2006)
  Ahmadi-Nejad says letter to Bush was invitation to Islam   (5/12/2006)

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