Iran Nuclear Watch: Ahmadinejad – Iran Welcomes Unconditional Talks on Nukes

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad waves as he leaves after visiting the family of the late revolutionary founder Ayatollah Khomeini two days before his 17th death anniversary, in Tehran, Iran, Friday, June 2, 2006. Iran insisted Friday that the West will not deprive it of nuclear technology and must drop conditions on negotiations, defying pressure to accept a package of incentives to stop its nuclear activities.

ASSociated Press: Iran welcomes unconditional talks on nukes

A breakthrough in negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program is possible, the republic’s president told the U.N. chief Saturday while welcoming unconditional talks with all parties, including the United States.

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said in a speech later Saturday that his government would not rush to judge an incentives package offered by Western countries to persuade Iran to halt its uranium enrichment program.

State television reported that Ahmadinejad spoke by phone to U.N. Secretary-General
Kofi Annan and told him the crisis could be settled as long as the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog agency preserved Tehran’s right to use atomic energy.

A U.S. offer for negotiations is conditioned on Iran suspending uranium enrichment â€” a process that can produce both fuel for nuclear reactors that generate electricity and the material for atomic warheads â€” and allowing international inspections to prove it.

This is a joke, right?

Why would the Big 6 be interested in unconditional negotiations, when Iran has been stalling for years, while developing a nuclear weapon manufacturing program?

The Quotes:

“A breakthrough to overcome world problems, including Iran’s nuclear case, would be the equal implementation of the law for all,” state TV quoted Ahmadinejad as telling Annan.

“We won’t make any prejudgement about the proposal to be presented to us … we won’t be in haste to judge it,” Ahmadinejad told thousands of people in Iran’s capital, Tehran.

“We are after negotiations, but fair and just negotiations. They must be without any conditions,” he said in a speech marking the anniversary of the death of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the founder of Iran’s 1979 Islamic revolution.

“The Iranian nation won’t give in to talks that contain threats or conditions that seek to deprive our definite right,” Ahmadinejad said.

This is NOT a positive Iranian response to the Big 6’s proposal. But, Ahmadinejad has NOT been bloviating as usual so…….

1. Iran has reached a technical snag in their uranium enrichment program or
2. Iran is very close to announcing they have manufactured a nuclear weapon and need a little more time.

Stay tuned…….