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Last update - 11:50 08/12/2008
Iran rejects Barack Obama's 'failed' carrot and stick policy
By News Agencies
Tags: Barack Obama, Israel News 

Iran rejected on Monday a suggestion by U.S. President-elect Barack Obama that a carrot and stick policy of economic incentives and additional sanctions might persuade the Iranian government to halt its nuclear program.

Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman, Hasan Qashqavi, said Monday that Obama's proposed policy was unacceptable and had failed in the past.

U.S. President-elect Barack Obama said on Sunday he was prepared to offer Iran economic incentives to stop its nuclear program, which Washington says is aimed at making bombs. But he warned that sanctions could be toughened if it refused.
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"When they stick to their past view regarding suspending uranium enrichment, our answer will be: Iran will never suspend uranium enrichment," Foreign Ministry spokesman Hassan Qashqavi told reporters.

Washington, which cut ties with Tehran after the 1979 revolution that ousted the U.S.-backed shah, has been pushing hard to isolate Iran over its nuclear plans.

Iran, the world's fourth largest oil producer, insists it wants to master nuclear technology to generate electricity so it can save more of its oil and gas reserves for exports.

Enrichment is the part of Iran's program that most worries the West because, if uranium is enriched much more, it can make warhead material as well as being used to make fuel for power plants.

"If their [Washington's] new stance is to remove concerns about Iran's nuclear activities, we are ready for that. But our new expectation is ... that they should recognize our right to nuclear technology," Qashqavi said.

"The old policy was carrot and stick. This needs to change and transform into an interactive policy," he said.

During a presidential debate with Republican rival John McCain in October, Obama said his administration would work to restrict gasoline imports to Iran, which cannot make enough refined fuel to meet all domestic needs and has to import some.

Speaking on Sunday, Obama told a U.S. broadcaster: "We are willing to talk to them directly and give them a clear choice and ultimately let them make a determination in terms of whether they want to do this the hard way or the easy way."

Obama takes office on Jan. 20.

"When they talk about change, everyone expects a changed policy to entail something very different to what President [George W.] Bush was following," Qashqavi said, adding everyone should "wait and see" what approach Obama would take in office.

Iran said last week it did not believe U.S. policy would change under Obama. Its refusal to stop enrichment, has drawn three rounds of U.N. sanctions since 2006, as well as separate U.S. measures.
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  1.   Failure of Broadcast Diplomacy 11:57  |  Mark of Lewiston 08/12/08
  2.   Well there is Mullah answer.Iran wants to negotiate? 13:13  |  PETER SM 08/12/08
  3.   If Obama doesn`t make friends with Russia and China, forget it. 13:17  |  S 08/12/08
  4.   MARK of L.There has been quiet US /Iran negotiations for years 13:56  |  PETER SM 08/12/08
  5.   Iran is saying that if Israel has the bomb they should too. 14:42  |  Jack 08/12/08
  6.   Iran 15:00  |  farrokh 08/12/08
  7.   Tehran`s code word ..... interactive 15:26  |  allang 08/12/08
  8.   Both sides are playing tough right now Mark of Lewiston 17:13  |  Mark Lincoln 08/12/08
  9.   Iran, the biggest danger to the Middle East and to the world. 18:30  |  Jean Van Daem 08/12/08
  10.   I wish Iran DID possess the Bomb. 18:40  |  Lou Medel 08/12/08
  11.   Israel wll bomb Iran 18:41  |  it will happen 08/12/08
  12.   8, Mark Lincoln 18:56  |  Harry 08/12/08
  13.   Did I read this right? 19:14  |  Jennifer 08/12/08
  14.   "Iran rejects Barack Obama`s....." 23:29  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 08/12/08
  15.   #2 Iran is happy to negotiate, PETER SM 00:26  |  Johnboy 09/12/08
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