Iran rejects talks if result is fixed by US: Khamenei
Wednesday, 4 November 2009
TEHRAN, Nov3 (AFP): Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said Tuesday Tehran will reject any dialogue if its result is pre-determined by Washington, raising the possibility a mooted nuclear fuel deal may be derailed.
"We do not want any negotiation, the result of which is pre-determined by the United States," Khamenei said in a speech to students on the eve of Wednesday's 30th anniversary of the US embassy seizure by radical Islamist students in Tehran.
"A dialogue like this is like a sheep and wolf relation, which the late imam (Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini) has said that we 'do not want'," Khamenei said.
Iran is currently engaged in high-profile talks, backed by Washington, with world powers over procuring nuclear fuel for a Tehran research reactor.
Khamenei also warned he will not allow people with "ill-intentions" towards the Islamic republic to "throw out a red carpet for the United States."
Meanwhile :US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton says there will be no changes to an international offer to end the dispute over Iran's nuclear program by having its low-grade uranium processed and enriched abroad. That proposal is still being considered by the government in Tehran, reports BBC.
Secretary of State Clinton says it is time for Iran to accept the U.N-backed nuclear fuel deal. "This is a pivotal moment for Iran. Acceptance fully of this proposal which we have put forth and which we are unified behind would be a good indication that Iran does not wish to be isolated and does wish to cooperate with the international community and fulfill their international responsibilities," she said.
"We do not want any negotiation, the result of which is pre-determined by the United States," Khamenei said in a speech to students on the eve of Wednesday's 30th anniversary of the US embassy seizure by radical Islamist students in Tehran.
"A dialogue like this is like a sheep and wolf relation, which the late imam (Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini) has said that we 'do not want'," Khamenei said.
Iran is currently engaged in high-profile talks, backed by Washington, with world powers over procuring nuclear fuel for a Tehran research reactor.
Khamenei also warned he will not allow people with "ill-intentions" towards the Islamic republic to "throw out a red carpet for the United States."
Meanwhile :US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton says there will be no changes to an international offer to end the dispute over Iran's nuclear program by having its low-grade uranium processed and enriched abroad. That proposal is still being considered by the government in Tehran, reports BBC.
Secretary of State Clinton says it is time for Iran to accept the U.N-backed nuclear fuel deal. "This is a pivotal moment for Iran. Acceptance fully of this proposal which we have put forth and which we are unified behind would be a good indication that Iran does not wish to be isolated and does wish to cooperate with the international community and fulfill their international responsibilities," she said.