Speaking at a press conference at the United Nations in New York, Ahmadinejad reiterated that Iran is not trying to develop nuclear arms. He also said that he is "at a loss" about what more Tehran can do to provide guarantees that it is not trying to develop nuclear weapons.
"Our [nuclear] facilities are very open. We have invited all, diplomats, scientists to come and see them," he said. "We want to produce [nuclear] fuel. Some say, 'You have to create confidence, you have to make us trust you.' We don't have any criterion for creating trust. Maybe you will not feel trust for 100 years. What should we do?"
He also reiterated his call to the United States and the European Union to change their positions on the matter and recognize Iran's right to nuclear power.
The Iranian leader said that Tehran is willing to negotiate the suspension of uranium enrichment if it receives fair guarantees from world powers.
(AP, AFP, Reuters, dpa)