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Iran Vows to Continue Nuclear Program

Posted on: Saturday, 12 March 2005, 09:00 CST

TEHRAN, Iran -- Neither threats nor incentives will alter Iran's pursuit of its nuclear program, the Iranian foreign ministry said Saturday, defying new moves by the European Union and the United States to ensure Tehran never develops a nuclear bomb.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Hamid Reza Asefi rejected overtures from the West, saying Iran would not be influenced by external pressure. Iran maintains its nuclear program is solely for the peaceful pursuit of nuclear energy.

"Iran is determined to use peaceful nuclear technology and no pressure, incentive or threat can force Iran to give up its rights," state-run radio quoted Asefi as saying.

The show of bluster and defiance came a day after the Bush administration softened its stance on how to thwart Iran's suspected nuclear arms program, agreeing to support a European plan that offers economic incentives for the Tehran government to give up any weapons ambitions.

Washington also agreed to drop its opposition to Iran's membership of the World Trade Organization and allow some sale of spare parts for civilian aircraft. But Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice signaled that Iran should move quickly or face the threat of harsh United Nations Security Council sanctions.

Asefi rejected Washington's move.

"Lifting some restrictions against Iran will not stop Iran from pursuing its rights," Asefi said.

Washington has accused Tehran of using its civilian nuclear program as a cover to build a nuclear bomb and previously had insisted Iran deserves no reward for simply abiding by an international arms compact that forbids nuclear weapons development.

Iran suspended its uranium enrichment activities last year to create confidence in its negotiations and avoid Security Council referral. But Tehran says maintaining the voluntary freeze depends on progress in ongoing talks with Britain, Germany and France, who are negotiating on behalf of the European Union.

The Europeans want to get an Iranian commitment to scrap enrichment plans in exchange for economic aid, technical support and backing for Tehran's efforts to join mainstream international organizations.

Russia, meanwhile, welcomed the softening of the U.S. stance.

Russia hopes U.S. actions will conform with "the line that both Russia and Western European countries are pursuing in efforts to remove all questions relating to the character of Iran's nuclear program on the basis of cooperation," Foreign Ministry spokesman Alexander Yakovenko said.

Russia, which is building a nuclear reactor in Iran under a contract that has caused U.S. concern for years, has expressed support for the EU's diplomatic efforts.

Source: Associated Press/AP Online

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