TEHRAN: Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said yesterday Iran would not halt sensitive nuclear work the West suspects is aimed at making bombs and brushed aside threats of more sanctions.
Ahmadinejad, who is due to attend the UN’s General Assembly debate next week, also said he was willing to meet with both US presidential candidates while in New York.
“We are ready for talks that are completely free and in front of the media and at the site of the United Nations with America’s presidential candidates,” he told a news conference.
The outspoken president, who caused a storm of controversy during a visit last year, said: “I am ready for a debate with the US presidential candidates over global issues in the presence of the media at the UN headquarters. I have no plans in my schedule to meet with US politicians.”
“Last year, I said I was ready to meet with (President George W.) Bush. But now he is at the end of his term and (a meeting) will not impact our relations and future,” he told a press conference. Turning to that key point of tension between the two countries, Ahmadinejad said Iran has no fear of threatened new international sanctions over its refusal to halt controversial nuclear work.
“Those who want to impose sanctions are demonstrating their helplessness,” he said. His comments came ahead of a meeting today of six world powers that have offered Iran incentives to freeze uranium enrichment, the process at the heart of Western fears it is seeking atomic weapons.
The White House warned Iran on Monday that it faces possible new sanctions after a new report by the UN atomic watchdog that Tehran had not halted enrichment and was still stalling a UN investigation into its nuclear work.
“Let them impose sanctions against us... The more they impose sanctions, the more we thank God,” Ahmadinejad said. “A country that owns nuclear energy, stem cells, aerospace industries ... does not need these countries.”
Iran is already under three sets of UN sanctions over its refusal to freeze enrichment.
