Iran won't use oil as weapon if attacked: Ahmadinejad
Tuesday, 20 November 2007
RIYADH, Nov 19 (REUTERS): Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Sunday his country would not use oil as a weapon even if it is attacked by the United States (US) over Tehran's disputed nuclear program.
"We would never like to use oil as a weapon ... there are other means at our disposal to respond," Ahmadinejad told a news conference held after a summit of the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries. His remarks were translated into English from Persian.
Washington has not ruled out military action against Iran, accusing it of seeking nuclear weapons. Tehran says its nuclear programme is peaceful.
Ahmadinejad said Iran would study a Gulf Arab proposal to set up a body in a neutral country such as Switzerland that would provide enriched uranium to Middle East users including Iran and ensure it is used for peaceful purposes only.
"We will closely and positively study (the proposal)," Ahmadinejad said.
Iran has welcomed the plan but said it would not halt uranium enrichment on its own territory.
Ahmadinejad said OPEC leaders had discussed a decline in the value of the dollar at the two-day summit.
AFP from Brussels adds: European Union (EU) foreign policy chief Javier Solana urged Monday Iranian negotiators to meet him this week before he hands in a report to the six major powers on Tehran's nuclear ambitions.
"I have been in touch with the Iranians. I hope that they will find time in their calendar to meet this week. That is my position, and that is what I transmit to them in a very clear manner," Solana said as he arrived for a meeting in Brussels of EU foreign and defence ministers.
"We're pretty late in the month already" he added, aware that he is due to present his report on Iran's nuclear ambitions by the end of November to Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia and the United States.
"We would never like to use oil as a weapon ... there are other means at our disposal to respond," Ahmadinejad told a news conference held after a summit of the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries. His remarks were translated into English from Persian.
Washington has not ruled out military action against Iran, accusing it of seeking nuclear weapons. Tehran says its nuclear programme is peaceful.
Ahmadinejad said Iran would study a Gulf Arab proposal to set up a body in a neutral country such as Switzerland that would provide enriched uranium to Middle East users including Iran and ensure it is used for peaceful purposes only.
"We will closely and positively study (the proposal)," Ahmadinejad said.
Iran has welcomed the plan but said it would not halt uranium enrichment on its own territory.
Ahmadinejad said OPEC leaders had discussed a decline in the value of the dollar at the two-day summit.
AFP from Brussels adds: European Union (EU) foreign policy chief Javier Solana urged Monday Iranian negotiators to meet him this week before he hands in a report to the six major powers on Tehran's nuclear ambitions.
"I have been in touch with the Iranians. I hope that they will find time in their calendar to meet this week. That is my position, and that is what I transmit to them in a very clear manner," Solana said as he arrived for a meeting in Brussels of EU foreign and defence ministers.
"We're pretty late in the month already" he added, aware that he is due to present his report on Iran's nuclear ambitions by the end of November to Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia and the United States.