Iran Will Continue With Enrichment Despite Incentives

Unfortunately diplomacy will not convince Iran to halt it's enrichment of uranium. Reuters

TEHRAN (Reuters) - Iran said on Monday it would not consider any incentives offered by world powers that violated its right to nuclear technology, ruling out a precondition to halt atomic work the West believes is aimed at making bombs.

Six world powers agreed on Friday to offer a new package of incentives to coax Iran to halt uranium enrichment, a process which can make fuel for power plants or material for warheads.

Iran, the world's fourth largest oil producer, insists its enrichment activity is aimed at generating electricity, and says the program is a national right that it will not give up.

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NO CHANGE IN POSITION

A European diplomat has said the heart of the previous offer -- helping Iran develop civil nuclear power -- remains. Britain said details would be revealed only to the government of Iran.

At the Geneva meeting, U.S. chief delegate Christopher Ford said the offer was Iran's "best chance" to avoid isolation.

"It is tragic that (Iran's) government has remained so set on a contrary course of deceit, lawbreaking and confrontation unbefitting to the inheritors of such a proud, ancient culture."

Russia, which sent an envoy to Iran last week for discussions that covered the nuclear standoff, said on Saturday enrichment would have to be suspended during any talks.

"In the past, we have expressed our view about the issue that some Russian officials talked about. There has been no change in our position," Hosseini said when asked about the comments by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.

Iran has also discussed with Russia its own package of proposals, which it says would open the way for talks to resolve the nuclear row and other issues. It has not disclosed details.