Last update - 00:00 11/02/2007
Ahmadinejad: Iran wants talks, but won't suspend atomic work
By Reuters
Iran's president said on Sunday Iran wanted talks to resolve its nuclear dispute with the West but insisted the Islamic Republic would not suspend sensitive atomic work.
But Mahmoud Ahmadinejad made no major announcement of progress in Iran's nuclear programme, despite earlier speculation by some that he might announce the start of work on 3,000 new centrifuges.
"We are ready for talks but will not suspend our activities," Ahmadinejad said in a speech broadcast on state television, adding that taking such a step would be a "humiliation" and said sanctions would not harm the country.
"Behind the suspension, their (the West's) aim is to cheat us by giving us empty and vague promises to prevent us from having the nuclear fuel cycle," he said.
He also said Iran would reveal new technological achievements regularly until early April but he did not give details.
"By Farvardin 20 (April 9), the Iranian nation's big achievements will be regularly announced," he said, adding that they would cover industrial, agricultural, medical and "especially nuclear" developments.
Iran's chief nuclear negotiator, Ali Larijani, met European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana in Germany on Sunday to to discuss the row. Solana said after the meeting no deal had been reached but possible solutions were being explored.