Iran not to compromise on its nuclear

Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said on Saturday Tehran is ready for talks with world powers but there will not be any compromise on its nuclear right, Iran's English-language satellite channel Press TV reported.
    "Iran is seriously willing to enter talks with the world powers on the basis of the items mentioned in the latest package," Mottaki told a press conference with his visiting Turkish counterpart Ahmet Davutoglu.
    But "we cannot make any compromise in terms of the Iranian nation's inalienable right," the Iranian foreign minister added.
    Mottaki slammed the three rounds of UN sanctions against Iran as "a failed policy" which he said cannot stop Tehran from pursuing its legitimate rights.
    To initiate talks with the six major powers that are dealing with Iran's nuclear issue, Iran on Wednesday handed over its new package of proposals on global issues.
    However, White House spokesman Robert Gibbs on Thursday criticized Iran's proposal for its failure to live up to its international obligations, saying that "Iran obviously has two paths that they can choose: one of those paths leads to increased international isolation if they don't take concrete steps to end their program."
    Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on Friday that Iran must remain firm on its nuclear rights.
    "We must remain firm on our rights," Khamenei told Friday prayer worshippers in a sermon broadcast live on state television, "if we give up our rights, whether nuclear rights or other (rights), it will lead to the decline (of the Islamic regime)."
    The United States and other Western countries claimed that Iran intended to secretly develop nuclear weapons. The UN Security Council also required Iran to suspend its uranium enrichment activity.
    Iran, however, insisted that its nuclear plan is only for peaceful purposes, vowing to continue its uranium enrichment activity despite pressure and sanctions from Western countries.

Iran submits package of proposals to major powers to initiate talks
    TEHRAN, Sept. 9 (Xinhua) -- To initiate talks with six major powers on global issues, Iran handed over its new package of proposals on Wednesday.
    Representatives of six major powers, namely France, Britain, Russia, China, the United States and Germany, involved in talks over Iran's nuclear issue received the packages, a Xinhua photographer said. Full story
IAEA board urges Iran to clarify nuclear program nature 

    VIENNA, Sept. 11 (Xinhua) -- The International Atomic Energy Agency's (IAEA) 35-member board has expressed hope that Iran can actively engage in dialogue to clarify the nature of its controversial nuclear program.
    Continuous uranium enrichment has moved Iran closer to a dangerous situation, the chief U.S. envoy to the IAEA Glyn Davies said at the five-day board meeting, which ended on Thursday, one day ahead of schedule. Full story
U.S. calls for high-level multilateral meeting with Iran over nuclear issues
    WASHINGTON, Sept. 11 (Xinhua) -- The United States on Friday proposed to hold multilateral talks with Iran to find out if the Islamic Republic is really willing to address nuclear and other concerns.
    "If you go to the Iran document, it says the Iranian nation is prepared to enter into dialogue and negotiation and so on and so forth," Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs Philip Crowley told reporters
                                          

           Putin warns against attack on Iran

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has warned against military action targeting Iran or imposing new sanctions to curb its nuclear program.

Iran's latest proposals on its nuclear ambitions have brought diverging views from the US and Russia.

Iran has offered to hold "comprehensive, all-encompassing and constructive" negotiations on a range of security issues, including global nuclear disarmament.

While Russia's foreign minister has described them as a positive step forward, Washington is unhappy with the proposals.

Both US and Israel have never ruled out the option of air strikes on Iran to stop it acquiring an atomic weapon.

Speaking in Moscow, Mr Putin said strikes on Iran would lead to an increase in terrorism in the region.

"This would be very dangerous, unacceptable. This would lead to an explosion of terrorism, increase the influence of extremists," he said when asked about the possibility of an attack.

"I doubt very much that such strikes would achieve their stated goal."

He also called on Iran to take into account Israel's concerns and show restraint in its nuclear program.

"The Iranians should show restraint in their nuclear program. We have told Iran that it has the right to a civilian nuclear program but that it should understand what region of the world it is in," Mr Putin said.

"This is a dangerous region and Iran should show responsibility, especially by taking into account Israel's concerns, all the more so after the absolutely unacceptable statements about the destruction of the state of Israel."

Vow to stand firm

Iran has stood firm, with Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei insisting his country must defend its right to nuclear power.

"We must stand firm for our rights. If we give up our rights, whether nuclear or other rights, this will lead to decline," said the Ayatollah, who has the final say in all national issues.

"We will walk the path of decline if instead of using freedom for scientific and ethical progress, we use it to spread sin, instead of standing against arrogance, aggressors and international looters, we feel weak in front of them and retreat and instead of frowning at them we smile at them."

The Supreme Leader's remarks came two days after Iran delivered a new package of proposals to six world powers - Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia and the United States - to help resolve the stalemate over its atomic drive.

A spokeswoman for European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana said the six countries are to seek an urgent meeting with Iran.

The meeting could take the form of talks between Iran's top nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili and Mr Solana, who regularly represents the six powers.

The world powers have given Iran a late September deadline to begin negotiations or face more sanctions.

Iran is already under three sets of UN sanctions.

Washington has also expressed disappointment over Iran's package.

"It is not really responsive to our greatest concern, which is obviously Iran's nuclear program," Philip Crowley, assistant secretary of state for public affairs, told reporters.