AUSTRIA: Iran's top nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani says nuclear standoff with the West will not be resolved by force

Iran's top nuclear negotiator, Ali Larijani, says the nuclear standoff with the West will not be resolved by force. Speaking in Vienna, Larijani also said he is optimistic that talks can resume. A dispute with the West over Iran's nuclear programme will not be resolved by force and pressure, Iran's chief nuclear negotiator said on Tuesday (February 20). Speaking in Vienna, Ali Larijani, also said he was optimistic that nuclear negotiations could resume. "Today I have had detailed discussions with the honourable foreign minister of Belgium and Dr ElBaradei, the Director General of the agency (IAEA). My understanding is that the general locuters are interested in resumption of talks and negotiations and our view of this development is positive as well," he told reporters. Larijani's comments came on the same day the Iranian president said Iran wanted talks over its nuclear programme but ruled out preconditions demanding Tehran freeze work that the West believes is being used to make atomic bombs. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's comments in northern Iran came a day ahead of a U.N. deadline to suspend uranium enrichment, a process that Iran insists will only be used to make fuel for power plants but which can also be used to make bomb material. Larijani is in Vienna to meet the head of the U.N. watchdog International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Mohamed ElBaradei. He also said Iran would not react well to threats made over the nuclear standoff. "Apparently on a chess plane (board) you can not define a boxing ring. These are two different issues. We believe if they are beginning to move towards the boxing ring then they would have problems on their side too. But if they will sit at the chess table then we believe both sides can come to some solution." ElBaradei is due to issue a report to the U.N. Security Council on Wednesday which is expected to confirm that Tehran has defied a 60-day council deadline to stop enrichment. The council on Dec. 23 banned transfers of technology and expertise to Tehran's nuclear programme. ElBaradei said he expected those sanctions to be toughened if Iran refused to halt enrichment.

ITN Source | February 21, 2007

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