Iran won't give up nuclear rights: Jalili
18 May 2012 11:11 AM IST
Iran rejects Western pressures over its nuclear activities and will never give up its rights, Tehran's chief nuclear negotiator said on Thursday ahead crunch talks with world powers in Baghdad next week.
'If we participate in the negotiations... it is because of our resistance (to Western powers). Thanks to our resistance, we have defended the rights of the Iranian people,' Saeed Jalili said in a speech broadcast on local television.
'The Iranian people will never give up even an iota of their rights,' Jalili added, in reference to the Islamic republic's nuclear drive which the West suspects is masking a weapons programme. Tehran vehemently denies the charge.
'I advise Western officials against making calculated mistakes. In Baghdad, we can negotiate for cooperation on the basis of respect for Iran's undeniable rights. 'The path chosen by our country is a path of no return. The (West) would like to block Iran's progress in the nuclear domain, but they have failed. Iran on Thursday has become a nuclear power,' he said. Jalili also reiterated that sanctions and international pressure were not affecting Iran's determination.
'To those who say that time is running for dialogue, I reply: What is running out is the policy of pressuring Iran, because this strategy has not yielded the results' expected by world powers.
The US and the European Union have tightened economic sanctions on Iran, imposing tough restrictions on its vital oil industry.
'If we participate in the negotiations... it is because of our resistance (to Western powers). Thanks to our resistance, we have defended the rights of the Iranian people,' Saeed Jalili said in a speech broadcast on local television.
'The Iranian people will never give up even an iota of their rights,' Jalili added, in reference to the Islamic republic's nuclear drive which the West suspects is masking a weapons programme. Tehran vehemently denies the charge.
'I advise Western officials against making calculated mistakes. In Baghdad, we can negotiate for cooperation on the basis of respect for Iran's undeniable rights. 'The path chosen by our country is a path of no return. The (West) would like to block Iran's progress in the nuclear domain, but they have failed. Iran on Thursday has become a nuclear power,' he said. Jalili also reiterated that sanctions and international pressure were not affecting Iran's determination.
'To those who say that time is running for dialogue, I reply: What is running out is the policy of pressuring Iran, because this strategy has not yielded the results' expected by world powers.
The US and the European Union have tightened economic sanctions on Iran, imposing tough restrictions on its vital oil industry.
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