Iranian government spokesman Gholam Hossein Elham said in Tehran yesterday that the country would not stop its disputed uranium enrichment activities.

 

"We are prepared to talk about anything in negotiations, (but) there should not be any preconditions," Elham told reporters, referring to the demands by six world powers that Iran suspends its uranium enrichment work first and gets in return for some incentives.

 

"Everyone's rights must be respected in negotiations, and it also must be pursued with equality and understanding," said the spokesman, adding suspending the nuclear work could bring "inequity" to Iran.

 

Meanwhile, Elham stressed that the Islamic Republic "still believes the proposals handed by Europeans a good chance to resolve the nuclear issue through dialogue and diplomacy."

 

The EU big three -- France, Britain and Germany -- introduced last Thursday a draft resolution on the Iranian nuclear issue to the UN Security Council, calling on Iran to suspend all enrichment-related activities.

 

The US and some of its allies have accused Iran of working on highly enriched uranium and plutonium which are essential materials for making nuclear weapons, while Tehran has insisted on its right to develop a peaceful nuclear program aimed at generating electricity only.

 

On June 6, EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana presented Iran with a package concerning the Iranian nuclear issue, which was agreed on by the five permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany.

 

The proposal includes both incentives aimed at persuading Iran to suspend uranium enrichment and possible sanctions if Iran does not comply.

 

Frustrated by Iran's refrain from giving an official response to the offer sooner, the six countries agreed on July 12 to return Iran's nuclear issue to the UN Security Council.

 

The move drew a strong reaction from the Iranian government. Iran's top officials have warned that Iran would revise cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and may quit the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) if the West is not sincere on the nuclear issue.

 

(Xinhua News Agency July 25, 2006)