TEHRAN, 5 June 2006 — Iran’s supreme leader yesterday rejected international demands that his country suspend sensitive nuclear work, vowing Tehran would not buckle in the face of “threats and bribes.”
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei also gave the United States a staunch warning that any “mistake” in its dealings with oil-rich Iran would lead to consequences for global energy supplies.
“We have achieved a lot of scientific goals,” Khamenei said in a speech marking the 17th anniversary of the death of Iran’s revolutionary leader, Ayatollah Khomeini.
“This is a historic investment. It represents our political independence and national self-confidence. We should not sell out this precious resource because of the enemies’ threats and we should not be fooled by enemy bribes,” he said.
The five permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany are poised to present Iran with an offer of incentives and the prospect of fresh multilateral talks — involving the United States — on the condition that Iran first suspends uranium enrichment. That activity is at the center of fears the country could make nuclear weapons. Iran insists it only wants to make reactor fuel — and not bombs — and that enrichment is a right enshrined by the Nonproliferation Treaty.
EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana is expected in Tehran in the coming days to present the proposals, and Iran has been given just weeks to make up its mind — or else face robust Security Council action including possible sanctions.
But Khamenei added to indications that the offer could end up being dead on arrival by shrugging off any fear of the consequences.
“You threaten Iran. You say you want to direct energy in the region. If you make a single mistake about Iran, the supply of energy will definitely be put in serious risk,” Khamenei said of the United States.
“There is no consensus against Iran. It is only the Americans and some of their allies,” he said. “This is all about a political monopoly of energy. They want others to beg for energy.”
