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Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad welcoming his Syrian counterpart Bashar Assad in an official ceremony in Tehran on Saturday. (Reuters)
Last update - 23:42 02/08/2008
Ahmadinejad: Iran won't retreat one iota from its nuclear rights
By News Agencies
Tags: Iran, syria, nuclear, Assad

Iran will not retreat "one iota" from its nuclear rights, the Islamic republic's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said on Saturday, the day of an informal deadline set by Western officials in a row over Tehran's atomic ambitions.

Ahmadinejad made the remark in a statement posted on the presidential website after talks in Tehran with Syrian President Bashar Assad.

"In whichever negotiation we take part ... it is unequivocally with the view to the realization of Iran's nuclear right, and the Iranian nation would not retreat one iota from its rights," Ahmadinejad's statement said.
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According to the statement, Assad said that based on international agreements, every country, including Iran, has the right to engage in uranium enrichment and possess nuclear power stations.

The West accuses Iran of seeking to build nuclear warheads under cover of a civilian power program. Iran, the world's fourth-largest oil producer, denies the charge.

Western powers gave Iran two weeks from July 19 to respond to their offer to hold off from imposing more United Nations sanctions on Iran if Tehran would agree to freeze any expansion of its nuclear work, to get preliminary talks started between the two sides.

That would suggest a deadline of Saturday but Iran, which has repeatedly ruled out curbing its nuclear program, dismissed the idea of having two weeks to reply.

Earlier Saturday, Assad arrived for talks in Tehran, a few weeks after he told French President Nicolas Sarkozy that he would use his good relations with Iran to help resolve the Islamic republic's nuclear stand-off with the West.

Syria's president met with Ahmadinejad and other senior officials.

While visiting Paris last month, Assad said that a military attack on Iran over its nuclear program would have grave consequences for the United States, Israel and the world.

Washington says it wants a diplomatic solution to the dispute but has not ruled out military action if that fails.

EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana - who leads nuclear talks with Iran for the six major powers - will not declare Iran has missed the deadline if it does not reply by Saturday, EU diplomats said, but the West wants a reply in the next week.

"One should not focus too much on Saturday," one EU official said, speaking on condition of anonymity. "If it's not Saturday but next week, we'll not make a big fuss about it. What matters is to get a clear answer quickly, in the very coming days."

An EU diplomat said "we are continuing our double approach of dialogue and pressure. If dialogue does not work, we could continue with additional pressure ... at the UN or EU level."

The sources were not authorized to speak publicly about the delicate diplomacy.

Germany's foreign minister urged Iran to stop playing for time and deliver a clear answer to the initiatives offered by six world powers, according to an interview released Saturday.

"I appeal again to the Iranian side no longer to play for time, but to give us a usable answer to our offers - stop dallying," Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier was quoted as saying in an interview with the weekly Der Spiegel.

The United States, China, Russia, Britain, France and Germany in June offered Iran economic and other incentives to coax it into halting uranium enrichment, which can have both civilian and military uses.

The freeze idea is aimed at getting preliminary talks started, although formal negotiations on the incentives package will not start before Iran stops enriching uranium, which Tehran says is solely aimed at providing fuel for power plants.

Iran, whose refusal to halt the work has drawn three rounds of UN sanctions since 2006, has rejected suspension in the past and has given no indication that it is ready for a freeze.

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      1.   When it is ignored, this "deadline" will be quietly forgotten 17:03  |  Clickfool 02/08/08
      2.   Asad as nuclear weapon mediator for the West 17:21  |  Sima 02/08/08
      3.   Sad 18:01  |  Mike 02/08/08
      4.   Assad negotiating nukes 18:11  |  Elianah 02/08/08
      5.   Syrian President arrives in Iran 18:35  |  I.Kemp 02/08/08
      6.   What nuclear deadline? 18:42  |  Wendy 02/08/08
      7.   #3 Sad 18:49  |  Lou Medel 02/08/08
      8.   @3 Sad Mike 19:11  |  Mark B. 02/08/08
      9.   It`s Curious George And The Tall Man In The Hat 19:20  |  Yosemite 02/08/08
      10.   What really was said. 19:56  |  ManintheMiddle 02/08/08
      11.   Iran don`t allow yourself to be bullied and intimidated by the 20:19  |  lakshmi 02/08/08
      12.   Syrian choice between Iran and peace. 20:40  |  Jean Van Daem 02/08/08
      13.   Jean van Daem`s Syrian "choice" # 12 21:27  |  Clickfool 02/08/08
      14.   Jean van Daem`s "choice" # 12 21:30  |  Clickfool 02/08/08
      15.   Delicate diplomacy??? 22:33  |  Jim 02/08/08
      16.   Germoney 23:02  |  Markus 02/08/08
      17.   sensible 23:22  |  potobac 02/08/08
      18.   Israelis Think Sanctions Will Work ? More Delusions 23:45  |  Tod Zuckerman 02/08/08
      19.   Markus, peace-loving self-interest is bad? 00:05  |  Mark B. 03/08/08
      20.   Iran is counting on Syria and hizballa as the main front in the W 00:10  |  Simon 03/08/08
      21.   Germany speaks with forked tongue 00:20  |  Sam C 03/08/08
      22.   CAN SOMEONE EXPLAIN WHY IRAN CAN`T GO NUCLEAR? 00:27  |  Samy 03/08/08
      23.   re #6, Wendy 00:33  |  JTA 03/08/08
      24.   re #17, Potobac 00:40  |  JTA 03/08/08
      25.   Hypcocracy at it highest forms 00:40  |  gus 03/08/08
      26.   #19. What do you want, a war? 01:07  |  ManintheMiddle 03/08/08
      27.   Markus (16), it is not that peace loving German self-interest 01:30  |  Jew- and Bookburner 03/08/08
      28.   The Fanatics are hellbent on nukes 02:43  |  Brod 03/08/08
      29.   #12 JEAN VAN DAEM CONTINUES TO BOOTLEG 03:00  |  BigBadJohn 03/08/08
      30.   Dear Dear Samy 03:08  |  Torontonian 03/08/08
      31.   #22 Samy 03:21  |  Tarzan 03/08/08
      32.   DEAR SAMY#22, A NUCLEAR IRAN, THAT’S THE WHOLE ME NUCLEAR… 03:28  |  MOSHEH 03/08/08
      33.   Iran 03:46  |  JJJ 03/08/08
      34.   To MitM (#26) 04:03  |  Morris Valentine 03/08/08
      35.   IOTA = 1/100CM? 04:10  |  indrajaya 03/08/08
      36.   #19 Mark B. 04:35  |  Jim 03/08/08
      37.   Olmert Loves "Envelopes" 04:36  |  Joseph.E 03/08/08
      38.   A/MAD/JAD AND HIS "BROTHERS IN ARMS"WILL NEVER DEPART FROM THEIR 04:50  |  glenna 03/08/08
      39.   Samy #22, here`s why Iran can`t have nuke weapons at this time. 05:06  |  Voice of Reason 03/08/08
      40.   #20 Samy 05:08  |  Jim 03/08/08
      41.   No worries - carter and obama will continue talking to them 05:50  |  Arie 03/08/08
      42.   #12, jean van daem, israel has a choice too 06:03  |  VIPER 03/08/08
      43.   #22, SAMMY, thats what we`ve been saying all along 06:06  |  VIPER 03/08/08
      44.   #39, VOICE OF REASON, has no voice at all 06:09  |  VIPER 03/08/08
      45.   David and Goliath 06:11  |  Shimon Cleopas 03/08/08
      46.   The point is moot 06:55  |  Natallie Durson 03/08/08
      47.   jta 24 07:12  |  potobac 03/08/08
      48.   Iran`s Refusal To Cooperate 07:34  |  James 03/08/08
      49.   See you in September? 07:39  |  Shimon Cleopas 03/08/08
      50.   BASIC TRUTH 08:02  |  Tasawoof 03/08/08
      51.   Iran demonstrates respect for itself and others-deserves the same 08:26  |  Ivar 03/08/08
      52.   Bam`s Survivors Would Like Some Of That Reinforced Concrete ... 08:34  |  Lavi 03/08/08
      53.   James, 47, Iran refuses to cooperate with Israel`s armed robbery 09:25  |  Ivar 03/08/08
      54.   Saudi Plan is only comprehensive solution to ALL Middle East woes 09:46  |  Ivar 03/08/08
      55.   #53 I9VAR CONTUNUES TO SEE PINK ELEPHANTS 10:15  |  victor hardman 03/08/08
      56.   Iran Won`t Retreat One Iota From Its ForeignPolicy Frights Either 10:22  |  Lavi 03/08/08
      57.   Iran has no right to nuclear weapons 10:29  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 03/08/08
      58.   Never forget that Iran is ENTITLED to pursue uranium enrichment 10:42  |  Clickfool 03/08/08
      59.   #51, Ivar, speaking for Iran 10:48  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 03/08/08
      60.   Jim, Ass ad for sure not on regretably hopeless 10:53  |  Jew- and Bookburner 03/08/08
      61.   #35 Indrajaya a Freudian slip 11:06  |  H 03/08/08
      62.   PINHEAD SAMY # 22 11:06  |  Lex Luthor 03/08/08
      63.   Ever seen Mercats? 11:13  |  H 03/08/08
      64.   Shimon (49), your religious christian confusion seems to be 11:13  |  Jew- and Bookburner 03/08/08
      65.   Where`s your proof Iran is developing nukes, Cipora? # 57 12:18  |  Clickfool 03/08/08
      66.   22 Samy,spot on! Check my post 11 12:54  |  lakshmi 03/08/08
      67.   57 Cipora KJ.see my post 11,Iran as a signatory of NPT has the 12:56  |  lakshmi 03/08/08
      68.   Peace with Assad, mr Clickfool, and lady Di 13:03  |  Zuleida 03/08/08
      69.   The axis Berlin-Tehran and Haaretz 13:08  |  Jonathan S 03/08/08
      70.   For Zuleida #68 14:03  |  Clickfool 03/08/08
      71.   No 33 SFV 15:22  |  sohel sahen 03/08/08
      72.   Mr Clickfool, what about Lady Di? 15:25  |  Zuleida 03/08/08
      73.   for 70 CLICKFOOL 16:04  |  chasaboy 03/08/08
      74.   #58 Clickfool:There are nuclear rights & there are nuclear rights 16:09  |  Smadar 03/08/08
      75.   #58 Clickfool: The Iranian nuclear threat.... con`t 16:21  |  Smadar 03/08/08
      76.   SOON. BEST ISRAELI GIRL WILL BE ATİLLA KARAGÖZOĞLU`S WIFE 16:43  |  KING OF ISRAEL. 03/08/08
      77.   Samy ill answer your question 17:01  |  noor 03/08/08
      78.   Who signed the Nuclear non-proliferation treaty? 17:04  |  noor 03/08/08
      79.   smadar 71 17:05  |  potobac 03/08/08
      80.   Voice of reason 17:12  |  noor 03/08/08
      81.   I`m not sure what you`re trying to say, Smadar # 71 17:13  |  Clickfool 03/08/08
      82.   For Smadar again # 72 17:18  |  Clickfool 03/08/08
      83.   To Mr Clickfool + question on Lady Di 17:25  |  Zuleida 03/08/08
      84.   hes right.... why should iran retreat... 17:40  |  ravi 03/08/08
      85.   Clickfool (#65) Who needs proof? 17:48  |  Gil 03/08/08
      86.   Clickfool (#65) Who needs proof? 17:49  |  Gil 03/08/08
      87.   For Gil, who wonder why Iran needs nuclear power # 79 18:27  |  Clickfool 03/08/08
      88.   Tasawoof 18:49  |  asdf 03/08/08
      89.   The bomb of the mullahs 18:53  |  Jonathan S 03/08/08
      90.   Noor (#74) Let me correct your answer 19:07  |  Gil 03/08/08
      91.   Noor (#74) Let me correct your answer 19:07  |  Gil 03/08/08
      92.   The Oil Game 19:29  |  Yosemite 03/08/08
      93.   Noor (#74) Let me correct your answer 19:34  |  Gil 03/08/08
      94.   To Clickfool: Proof enough 19:34  |  Morris Valentine 03/08/08
      95.   For Gil # 80 19:45  |  Clickfool 03/08/08
      96.   For Jonatahn S # 83 19:53  |  Clickfool 03/08/08
      97.   84 Gil, blowing Iran`s death threats out of proportion 20:02  |  Dutch 03/08/08
      98.   #77 & #78 Clickfool Global sanctions not illegal, because... 20:17  |  Smadar 03/08/08
      99.   Video #2 and #3 Gil 20:36  |  noor 03/08/08
      100.   Accept the Saudi Plan, and all the fuss over Iran will disappear 20:44  |  Ivar 03/08/08
      101.   Gil wants to talk about Nazi Germany 20:44  |  noor 03/08/08
      102.   So it all boils down to giving up the settlements 4 peace 20:46  |  Ivar 03/08/08
      103.   Today`s Most Egregious Double Standard 20:48  |  Gray 03/08/08
      104.   For Morris Valentine # 91 20:50  |  Clickfool 03/08/08
      105.   81 ravi,check my post 11 21:08  |  lakshmi 03/08/08
      106.   ClickFOOL and the bomb for the mullahs #92 21:19  |  Jonathan S 03/08/08
      107.   #80 Zuleida 21:21  |  Try This 03/08/08
      108.   Clickfool- another lie 21:23  |  Wally 03/08/08
      109.   brothers in evil 21:26  |  Dik 03/08/08
      110.   Gil 22:03  |  Noor 03/08/08
      111.   Now you`re being ridiculous, Jonathan S # 106 22:15  |  Clickfool 03/08/08
      112.   To Clickfool (#104) 22:31  |  Morris Valentine 03/08/08
      113.   To Clickfool (#111) 22:39  |  Morris Valentine 03/08/08
      114.   Ivar #102, the settlements are not the only thing 22:41  |  ELIAS KHOURY 03/08/08
      115.   Israel: Nukes for All or Nukes for none....which will it be? 22:46  |  Gray 03/08/08
      116.   jonathan 106 22:53  |  potobac 03/08/08
      117.   ClickFOOL the fan of Chamberlain #111 22:58  |  Jonathan S 03/08/08
      118.   Clickfool (#95) Thanks for the link 23:00  |  Gil 03/08/08
      119.   evolution at work - 23:08  |  ivo 03/08/08
      120.   Circus traveling show 23:17  |  allang 03/08/08
      121.   Noor (#110) I heard exactly what he said 23:17  |  Gil 03/08/08
      122.   Clickfool (#95) Thanks for the link 23:18  |  Gil 03/08/08
      123.   TO NO 7 SO SAD 23:32  |  DANNY 03/08/08
      124.   #25 Gus 23:38  |  Dik 03/08/08
      125.   TO NO 33 23:46  |  DANNY. 03/08/08
      126.   TO NO 45. 23:50  |  DANNY. 03/08/08
      127.   Ivar, again speaking for Iran 23:54  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 03/08/08
      128.   TO 47 23:56  |  DANNY. 03/08/08
      129.   Ivar the wanderer, quoting Isiah 53 00:00  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 04/08/08
      130.   Zuleida + Clickfool 00:14  |  Brigitte 04/08/08
      131.   Clickfool; #87 Re: Iran`s right and need for nuclear power 00:21  |  Gray 04/08/08
      132.   114 ELIAS KHOURY 00:23  |  alan 04/08/08
      133.   DANNY............... 00:28  |  Gray 04/08/08
      134.   Urgent offer for exchanging Slowman 00:30  |  Beijing Zoo 04/08/08
      135.   Gil, the people are NOT ahmadinejad 00:39  |  noor 04/08/08
      136.   Gil, you speak farsi? 00:46  |  Noor 04/08/08
      137.   Mr. Khoury, an honour to exchange a word with you 00:47  |  Ivar 04/08/08
      138.   Cipora, get real!!! 00:52  |  Noor 04/08/08
      139.   Cipora, 127, blind to the Occupaton being the vortex of ME strife 01:12  |  Ivar 04/08/08
      140.   lou medel 3 01:12  |  raphael 04/08/08
      141.   HOW MANY TIMES DOES THE BUTT OF A SAWED OFF SHOT GUN HAVE TO TELL 01:20  |  glena 04/08/08
      142.   Gil #121 You HEARD what he said??? In Farsi...? 02:05  |  Gray 04/08/08
      143.   Nuclear Power in the Middle East. 02:18  |  Maureen Ann 04/08/08
      144.   #139 Ivar ..You Are Talking A lot Of Hogwash. 02:36  |  anonymous 04/08/08
      145.   #86, GILS failed logic 02:40  |  VIPER 04/08/08
      146.   Gil # 85 re: Clickfool 03:26  |  American in NY 04/08/08
      147.   Ivar; Yes, The Ocupation Must Be Resolved. 03:26  |  Gray 04/08/08
      148.   Arrogance and Hypocrisy 04:40  |  FK 04/08/08
      149.   In response to #39 04:48  |  FK 04/08/08
      150.   Read "Rights" to mean "Negotiatiable" 05:38  |  John Isenhower 04/08/08
      151.   139# Ivar Iran the lunatics of our time ! 06:37  |  Akram Zekaria 04/08/08
      152.   #142 Akram Zakaria. Your lust for war. 07:26  |  Maureen Ann 04/08/08
      153.   #139, Ivar of Iran 07:49  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 04/08/08
      154.   #139, Ivar on global terrorism 08:01  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 04/08/08
      155.   #138, noor the clueless 08:10  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 04/08/08
      156.   To Ivar #54 08:13  |  Josef 04/08/08
      157.   Israel may be left to do the job but USA will have to finish it 08:37  |  Mark Leaman 04/08/08
      158.   144# Mureen Ann.There is no `double standard`; but only 09:02  |  Akram Zekaria 04/08/08
      159.   139# IVAR Iran & Occupation.The Lie behind your posts! 09:27  |  Akram Zekaria 04/08/08
      160.   #95 Hey Click..That was in 2005,Things Have Moved on Since.. 16:33  |  KATHY 04/08/08
      161.   #145 Viper.On The Other forum Yonatan Asked You. 22:03  |  K 04/08/08
      162.   gray from virginia 22:03  |  Saffer 04/08/08
      163.   Madame Brigitte Clickfool lacks such communication skills 22:08  |  Saffer 04/08/08
      164.   tips for clickfool on the fairer sex 22:11  |  Saffer 04/08/08
      165.   Is gray Dutch,s alter ego??? 22:20  |  Saffer 04/08/08
      166.   148# Because most of these country`s will 22:23  |  Saffer 04/08/08
      167.   #161, K and my name 03:26  |  VIPER 05/08/08
      168.   clickfool ignorant of his own history 21:53  |  alan 06/08/08
      169.   alan Learn historyonly Germany is responsible for your holocaust 03:07  |  American in NY 09/08/08
      170.   alan Learn historyonly Germany is responsible for your holocaust 03:07  |  American in NY 09/08/08
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