IRAN: Iran seeks acceptance of its nuclear programme

Iran defends its nuclear policies but says it's keen to cooperate with the international atomic watchdog. Iran says it's intent on overcoming international concerns about its nuclear policies. Foreign ministry spokesman Mohammad Ali Hosseini said his country recognised there were disagreements between different countries but said that was natural. Iran has refused to halt uranium enrichment after two previous U.N. sanctions resolutions and denies it wants to make atomic bombs, saying its programme is for power generation. In his weekly briefing Hosseini downplayed criticism of his country's nuclear policies, and stressed Iran's nuclear policy was in accordance with International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) principles and was "based on talks and cooperation" with the United Nations' nuclear energy watchdog. Hosseini said Iran was prepared to enter discussions aimed at stabilising the situation in Iraq. "In principle we are in favour of talks, because Iran's policy is to help the Iraqi nation and government as we have emphasized several times," he said. While U.S. President George W. Bush is still pushing for tougher sanctions against Iran over its nuclear programme, U.S. officials in Baghdad have softened their rhetoric towards Tehran and said they are open to such talks. U.S. ambassador to Iraq Ryan Crocker has held three rounds of talks with his Iranian counterpart this year on Iraqi security, helping to thaw a diplomatic freeze that lasted almost three decades. Last week, he said he expected another round of talks to take place soon.

ITN Source | November 11, 2007

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