Iran: Nuclear breakthrough possible, welcomes unconditional talks

By: ALI AKBAR DAREINI - Associated Press | Saturday, June 3, 2006 5:36 PM PDT ∞

TEHRAN, Iran -- A breakthrough in negotiations over Iran's nuclear program is possible, the republic's president told the U.N. chief Saturday while welcoming unconditional talks with all parties, including the United States.

However, a U.S. offer for negotiations is conditioned on Iran suspending its enrichment of uranium and related activities and allowing inspections to prove it.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said a settlement could take place as long as the International Atomic Energy Agency -- the U.N.'s nuclear watchdog -- preserved Tehran's right to use atomic energy, Iran's state-run television reported.

"A breakthrough to overcome world problems, including Iran's nuclear case, would be the equal implementation of the law for all," state TV quoted Ahmadinejad as telling U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan in a phone conversation.

Ahmadinejad's comments alluded to the fact that Iran has signed the IAEA treaty, which allows member states to pursue nuclear energy for peaceful uses.

The United States and other Western nations suspect Iran's nuclear program is intended to produce weapons. Tehran insists it is for generating electricity.

In a major policy shift, the United States agreed this week to join France, Britain and Germany in talks with Iran, provided Tehran suspends all suspect nuclear activities. It would be the first major public negotiations between Washington and Tehran in more than 25 years.

Six world powers decided Thursday to offer Iran a new package of incentives if it gives up uranium enrichment or impose sanctions if it refuses. The United States warned Friday that Iran does not have much time to respond to the proposal, suggesting that the window could close and be replaced by penalties.

Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana would deliver the package to Iranian officials in the next few days.

"We are waiting to officially receive the proposals. We will make our views known after studying the package," Mottaki said Saturday, adding that Iran would not join talks if conditions were attached.

The package, agreed upon by the five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council and Germany, carries the threat of U.N. sanctions if Tehran remains defiant over its nuclear program.

At an Asian security conference, Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld said Washington was hoping for a positive Iranian response to the new incentives package.

The Pentagon chief said he hoped Iran would "recognize the seriousness and substance" of the offer. He added that the U.S. agreed to the proposals because progress in talks involving Iran and Europe had "arrived at a point where it seemed not to be moving forward."

The Vatican, meanwhile, insisted that diplomacy was the only tool for resolving the international crisis over Iran's nuclear program.

The Holy See "is firmly convinced that even the present difficulties can and must be overcome through the diplomatic path, using all means which diplomacy can avail itself of," Vatican spokesman Joaquin Navarro-Valls said in a statement.

Iran announced April 11 that it had enriched uranium for the first time, using 164 centrifuges. Enrichment can produce either fuel for a nuclear reactor or material for a warhead -- but tens of thousands of centrifuges are needed to do either on a large scale.

Iran intends to move toward large-scale uranium enrichment involving 3,000 centrifuges by late 2006 but also has indicated it may suspend large-scale uranium enrichment to ease tensions.