IRAN: Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad says Iran has a right to develop peaceful nuclear energy and calls for debate with U.S. President George W. Bush

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Tuesday (August 29) challenged U.S. President George W. Bush to a televised debate and voiced defiance as a deadline neared for Iran to halt work the West fears is a step toward building nuclear bombs. "Peaceful nuclear energy is the right of the Iranian nation. The Iranian nation has chosen that based upon international regulations, it wants to use it and no one can stop it," he told a news conference. The White House said Ahmadinejad's call for a presidential debate on global concerns was a "diversion" from international concerns over Iran's nuclear programme. The U.N. Security Council has given Iran until Thursday to suspend uranium enrichment -- a process which can produce fuel for civilian reactors or explosive material for warheads -- and has threatened sanctions unless it does so. Ahmadinejad said Iran had laid out a framework for talks in its reply to an offer by six world powers of incentives in exchange for a suspension of enrichment. That framework provided an "exceptional opportunity" to solve the nuclear dispute. Asked specifically if Iran would halt enrichment, even for a short period, he replied: "In that (Iran's response to the six-nation offer) we announced that any kind of dialogue should be based upon the certain rights of the Iranian nation." Ahmadinejad condemned the U.S. and British roles in the world since World War Two. "Isn't it time that international relations are founded on democracy and equal rights of the nations?" he asked. "I suggest holding a live TV debate with Mr George W. Bush to talk about world affairs and the ways to solve those issues. "The debate should be go uncensored in order for the American people to be able to listen to what we say and they should not restrict the American people from hearing the truth." Ahmadinejad brushed off calls by the U.S. ambassador to the U.N., John Bolton, for sanctions if Tehran ignores the deadline. "Bolton is free to say whatever he wants ... our nation is a strong nation. A nation that has been able to attain the nuclear fuel cycle with its bare hands can solve any other problems." He also said Iran would consider renewing ties with the United States but that it was up to Washington to act after cutting relations shortly after the 1979 Islamic revolution. "They cut the relations themselves and they themselves should prepare the ground for (restoring ties)," he said. Washington has called for a swift response if Iran does not meet the deadline. But analysts say divisions at the United Nations about how to handle Iran's file could delay such a move. Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja of Finland, current European Union president, urged Iran, in talks with its Deputy Foreign Minister Saeed Jalili in Helsinki, to announce a suspension of enrichment so "real negotiations" could start, Finnish news agency STT reported. Iran has shown no sign it will halt uranium enrichment. The world's fourth largest oil exporter has shrugged off the threat of sanctions and said such a move would simply push oil prices up to intolerable levels for industrialised economies. Ahmadinejad is not the highest authority in Iran but his comments chime with remarks by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has the final say and who has said Iran will press ahead with its pursuit of nuclear technology. Iran insists it has the right to enrich uranium under international treaty. Western diplomats argue it only has that right if it proves its intentions are peaceful. Iran has said it is ready for immediate talks on its atomic plans but has refused to suspend enrichment before talks start, which was proposed in the package of incentives offered by the United States, China, Russia, France, Britain and Germany. Russia and China, big trading partners of Iran who have veto powers in the U.N. Security Council, may oppose sanctions moves.

ITN Source | August 30, 2006

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