VIENNA, 21 February 2007 — Iran’s chief nuclear envoy warned the United States yesterday against climbing into “the boxing ring” over his country’s refusal to freeze uranium enrichment, while signaling that Tehran wants to negotiate over fears that it may want to develop an atomic bomb.
Ali Larijani’s comments — issued on the eve of a UN Security Council deadline for Iran to stop enrichment or face tougher sanctions — still offered no hints that his country was ready to meet that demand.
“If they...move into the boxing ring, they would have problems,” Larijani told reporters in response to a question about US pressure on Iran to give up enrichment. “But if they sit at the chess table, then both sides would come to a result.” With the US recently more robust in accusing Iranians of helping insurgents in Iraq and in beefing up its naval presence in the Gulf, Larijani’s comments were seen as veiled warnings that any US pressure would be met in kind.
“Anybody interested in...irrational moves...would definitely receive an appropriate response,” he said.
While saying his country was prepared to deliver “assurances that there would be no deviation...toward a nuclear weapons program,” he offered no new suggestions — and indirectly ruled out the key international demand that Tehran suspend enrichment, saying that was just a “pretext” to put political pressure on his country. Earlier, as he went into a meeting with Mohamed El-Baradei, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency — the UN nuclear watchdog — Larijani said his country was “looking for ways and means to start negotiations.”
Earlier, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said his country was ready to stop its enrichment program and return to talks — but attached a condition. He said Western nations also must stop their own enrichment activities.
“Justice demands that those who want to hold talks with us shut down their nuclear fuel cycle program too,” Ahmadinejad told thousands of people in northern Iran. “Then, we can hold dialogue under a fair atmosphere.” Iran has rejected the Security Council resolution as “illegal,” and said it would not give up its right under the nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty to enrich uranium.
