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Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, left, shakes hands with U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan during their meeting in Tehran, Iran on Sunday. (AP)
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| By Associated Press September 3, 2006 |
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Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad favors negotiations on his country's nuclear program but won't halt uranium enrichment ahead of talks, U.N. chief Kofi Annan said Sunday after meeting the leader.
Annan's two-day visit to Tehran comes after Iran ignored a United Nations deadline to halt uranium enrichment by the end of August, opening the door to consideration of sanctions to reinforce Western demands that it roll back its nuclear program.
"On the nuclear issue, the president reaffirmed to me Iran's preparedness and commitment to negotiate" with Western powers to find a solution to the impasse over Tehran's nuclear activities, Annan told a joint press conference with Iranian Foreign Minister Manoucher Mottaki.
However, Ahmadinejad "reiterated that they did not accept suspension before negotiations, but they are prepared to negotiate," the U.N. chief said, conveying Iran's rejection of a condition set by the five permanent members of the Security Council plus Germany.
The Iranian president's comment suggests that Annan failed to achieve a breakthrough on the nuclear issue because Iran has previously expressed interest in talks, but refused to halt enrichment first.
In June, the 5+1 offered Iran an incentives package to roll back its nuclear program. Tehran's lack of transparency over its nuclear activities and obstruction of international inspectors has raised concerns that it is trying to produce fuel for a nuclear weapon. It says that its program is peaceful, aiming to generate electricity.
Iran's slowness in responding to the package prompted the Security Council to issue a resolution July 31 requiring it to halt uranium enrichment by the end of August.
On Sunday, Mottaki said the council issued the resolution "under pressure from the United States and Britain" and described it as a "mistake" and a "black mark against them."
Iran did respond to the package Aug. 22, rejecting the stipulation that it stop enriching uranium before talks could begin. The content of its response has not been made public.
Ahmadinejad did not attend the press conference. State television quoted him as saying he was ready to negotiate, but that the onus was on Western countries repair relations with Tehran.
"Iran's trust has been undermined during the past three years," he was quoted as saying in reference to the date when talks with Western powers on its program broke down. "They (the West) should try to win our trust to solve the issue."
Although Iran's violation of the U.N. deadline opens the way for sanctions, the likelihood of immediate punitive measures appears in doubt.
Annan said before arriving that he hoped they could be avoided to prevent a further escalation of tensions in the region. Permanent veto-wielding council members Russia and China -- who have strong trade ties with Iran -- oppose quick and harsh penalties.
Iran hinted on Saturday that it could reduce its cooperation further if punitive measures were implemented. Its IAEA envoy, Ali Asghar, Soltanieh warned that Tehran could block access by the U.N. nuclear watchdog's inspectors if it faced sanctions.
Mediation efforts are set to shift to the European Union, whose top diplomat Javier Solana plans to meet with Iran's chief nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani this week.
Iran appeared more responsive to U.N. concerns regarding Lebanon, where Tehran is a backer of the Hezbollah guerrilla group.
Ahmadinejad "reaffirmed his country's support for the implementation of resolution 1701," Annan said of his discussions about the U.N. resolution on Lebanon that includes measures to prevent the rearming of Hezbollah.
But the U.N. chief did not disclose the specifics of his talks on the topic with the Iranian president. Mottaki, after meeting Annan Saturday, made a vague promise to support the resolution, but did not directly mention Hezbollah.
Annan also reiterated his displeasure over an exhibition in Tehran of cartoons on the Holocaust. He underlined the outrage among Muslims caused by the publication earlier this year of the Danish cartoons of Islam's Prophet Muhammad.
Those comments came just hours after Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman said Iran plans to hold a conference this fall questioning the extent of the Holocaust.
Annan's meeting with the Iranian president came on the final day of his two-day visit to Iranian capital where he also met Larijani and Mottaki. His tour has taken him to Lebanon, Israel and Syria and his coming stops include Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Turkey.
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