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Last update - 22:46 23/07/2008 Ahmadinejad praises U.S. for sending rep to nuclear talks By The Associated Press Tags: U.S., Mahmoud Ahmadinejad  Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Wednesday that the United States' participation in the latest round of nuclear talks is a step toward recognizing Tehran's right to acquire nuclear technology. A senior diplomat from the U.S. joined envoys from five other world powers in Switzerland at Saturday's talks on Iran's nuclear program. Ahmadinejad told thousands of supporters gathered in the southern Iranian town of Yasouj that U.S. Undersecretary of State William Burns spoke politely and in a dignified manner. "It was a step toward recognizing the rights of the Iranian nation, toward justice, toward repairing your image in the world, toward cleaning 50 years of crimes you committed against the Iranian nation," Ahmadinejad said, addressing the U.S. Advertisement The United States and other Western nations accuse Iran of seeking to acquire nuclear weapons and demand that it freeze its uranium enrichment program. Iran says its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes. Ahmadinejad on Wednesday again vowed Iran will not retreat one iota from pursuing it. The U.S. participation in the Geneva talks had raised expectations for a compromise under which Iran would agree to stop expanding its enrichment activities. In exchange, six world powers - the U.S., Germany, Britain, France, Russia and China - would hold off on adopting new UN sanctions against Iran. German Chancellor Angela Merkel said negotiators were hearing very diverse signals from Iran on its intentions but that she was still counting on a diplomatic solution. "I am counting on that and nothing else," she told reporters Wednesday. In France, which currently heads the European Union, Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said he wasn't surprised that Ahmadinejad declared he won't budge because the Iranian president has proved quasi-unable to show political flexibility. "It's always disappointing to see how peace efforts are opposed by a tenacity ... that doesn't benefit the Iranian people," Kouchner said. He said the slow beginning to the Geneva talks did not mean a diplomatic solution would not be found. "The Iranian (negotiators) we are sent are much more flexible than President Ahmadinejad," he told reporters. The heads of the International Atomic Energy Agency and Iran's top nuclear official plan to meet Thursday, the UN agency said without providing details. The meeting was requested by Gholam Reza Aghazadeh, head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organization, said a diplomat close to the UN nuclear watchdog. The diplomat spoke on condition of anonymity because the information was confidential. U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on Monday accused Iran of not being serious at the Geneva talks. She said Iran had given the run-around to the envoys, while all six nations were serious about a two-week deadline for Iran to agree to freeze suspect activities and start negotiations or else be hit with new penalties. Iran already has defied three sets of UN sanctions over its uranium enrichment activity. But recent Iranian pronouncements suggest the Islamic Republic may be looking to improve ties with the United States, with officials speaking positively to the possibility of opening an interests section in Tehran after closing its embassy there decades ago. Ahmadinejad urged the United States to continue its positive attendance in the talks. "I advise you not to ruin the positive step you took through irrelevant words and claims," he said. Related articles: Report: Israeli sources say Russia to supply new Iran air defenses Aluf Benn / Israel's slap in the face from America Haaretz Editorial / Talking and suspecting Bookmark to del.icio.us   The bigger apple Study shows Tel Aviv is more expensive to live in than New York. When bedbugs bite After 40 years' absence, Israel braces for return of the bedbug.   1.   humorous 23:50  |  alex 23/07/08   2.   `praise`? 18:42  |  frenz 24/07/08   3.   Who knows he might soon be tomorrow`s U.S.`s Talansky 21:44  |  Anything`s possible 24/07/08

Read & React Sen. Joe Lieberman praises pastor who said Holocaust was God's work Responses: 125 Obama tells Haaretz: Two states for two peoples Responses: 144 Ashkenazi in U.S.: All options are on the table regarding Iran Responses: 72 Editorial: We need a U.S. leader unfettered by the Israel lobby Responses: 76 Israel Harel: Shalit must be made a burden for Hamas, rather than an asset Responses: 26 Rosner's Domain The Lebanese are undercutting goodwill in Washington (WTR) Is Jimmy Carter 'tone-deaf' to Jewish sensibilities? (WTR) Will Lebanon pay the price for the prisoner swap deal? What will Obama look for in Jerusalem (and Ramallah)? More Headlines 21:51 AG: Olmert obstructing graft probes against him 19:48 Settler holds knife to IDF soldier's throat in West Bank riot 14:53 Terror victims' relatives file NIS 450m suit against PA, Barghouti 21:41 Tali Fahima: Zakariya Zubeidi is Israeli security service's whore 21:19 MKs okay new West Bank homes, despite vow to freeze settlements 21:45 Cancer research center warns: Stay away from cell phones 15:36 Jewish World/Unwilling flag wavers? 14:41 Study: Tel Aviv more expensive to live in than New York 09:31 Ashkenazi in U.S.: All options are on the table regarding Iran 14:11 Barack Obama tells Haaretz: Two states for two peoples 16:47 Another delay in Katsav sex crimes indictment as case transferred 16:05 Egypt shuts Iranian TV office in Cairo amid spat over Sadat film 14:51 Haredis likely behind vandalism of Jerusalem ads featuring actress 19:10 Pop singer Aviv Gefen pens new ballad calling to free Shalit Previous Editions Select Day 23 jul 22 jul 21 jul 20 jul 18 jul 17 jul 16 jul 15 jul 14 jul 13 jul 11 jul 10 jul

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