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Iran's President Says He Won't Back Down Over Enrichment
April 10, 2006
President Ahmadinejad (file photo) (ITAR-TASS)
April 10, 2006 -- Iranian President Mahmud Ahmadinejad has reiterated he will not back down over Iran's controversial nuclear program.
In a speech carried live on state television today, Ahmadinejad again rejected a UN Security Council demand for Tehran to freeze sensitive uranium-enrichment work.
He also promised what he called "very good nuclear news in the coming days" but did not elaborate.
New European Warning
European Union High Representative for Common Foreign and Security Policy Javier Solana said today the EU should consider sanctionsagainst Iran because of the country's refusal to cooperate withthe UN on its nuclear program.
Solana said the sanctions could include EU travel bans on Iranian nuclear officials. However, Solana rejected any use of military force against Iran.
Solana made his comments on the sidelines of a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Luxembourg today.
British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said Iran had lied about its nuclear program and repeatedly failed to heed calls from the international community to cooperate.
"We uphold Iran's right to civil nuclear technology, and it's not the issue," Straw said. "The issue is the years of deception, deceit by Iran, their failure to comply even now with the requirements of the International Atomic Energy Agency board of governors and the serious concerns in the international community about how they may misuse their fuel cycle for nuclear weapons purposes."
Iran says its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes.