Ahmadinejad Rejects Concessions On Iran's Nuclear Rights

Ahmadinejad making a speech in Arak in May (Fars) June 8, 2006 -- Iranian President Mahmud Ahmadinejad says talks over Iran's nuclear program must take place in a "fair atmosphere" and that threats would not work.

In a speech in the Iranian city of Qazvin today, Ahmadinejad insisted that Iran would not negotiate over its rights to pursue peaceful nuclear technology.

"You should know that the Iranian nation will not retreat [at all] from its path toward progress, from its path toward accessing [modern] technologies," he said.

The comment came one day after the United States said Tehran must suspend uranium enrichment throughout any negotiations with major world powers on Iran's nuclear activities.

Iran earlier said it was studying the proposal of incentives from the major powers aimed at persuading Tehran to halt uranium-enrichment activities that Western countries fear could be used for atomic weapons.

The International Atomic Energy Agency, the United Nations' nuclear watchdog agency, is expected today to issue an updated report on Iran's uranium-enrichment activities.

(Reuters, AFP, dpa)

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