Iran rules out talks on ‘nuclear rights’
Foreign Desk Report

TEHRAN—Iran on Friday ruled out any negotiations with world powers over its right to sensitive nuclear activities, amid growing pressure from the United States and Europe for more sanctions against Tehran.
President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad told the faithful in a speech at Tehran University there was no question of Iran suspending uranium enrichment activities, which the West fears could be used to make a nuclear weapon. “The Iranian people are not ready to sit around a table and discuss their absolute nuclear rights. They (world powers) have to know this,” Ahmadinejad said. “We are no longer prepared to be active in the political scene to argue about Iran’s right to nuclear energy.” His defiant comments came after France called for EU sanctions over Tehran’s nuclear programme and amid US efforts for a third UN Security Council resolution imposing sanctions against the Islamic republic. Ahmadinejad however reaffirmed his stance that he now considers Iran’s nuclear case to be “closed” owing to its intensified cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).