Iran vowed once again on Sunday to never negotiate over its "obvious rights" to carry out uranium enrichment.

 

"There will be no negotiation for us over Iranian nation's obvious rights," said Foreign Ministry spokesman Mohammad Ali Hosseini, at his weekly press conference.

 

The world is currently braced for an expected announcement by Ahmadinejad, who promised "good news" about Iran's nuclear program. Details of the announcement are unknown although analysts are forecasting he would declare the complete installation of 3000 centrifuges.

 

Hosseini vituperated that Iran's uranium enrichment rights were guaranteed under the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), since its nuclear program had only peaceful intent.

 

The spokesman further slammed the newly approved UN sanction resolution for creating another obstacle to nuclear talks.

 

Resolution 1747, passed by the UN Security Council in the end of last month, urges Iran to suspend uranium enrichment work "without further delay."

 

The new sanction is a big step up than its predecessors since it calls for a blanket ban of Iranian arms exports as well as freezing assets of 28 more individuals or organizations associated to Iran's nuclear and missile programs. It also issues a call for travel restrictions to be placed on the same individuals and for the curbing of any non-humanitarian financial dealings with the Iranian government.

 

Finally, the statement dictates that the International Atomic Energy Agency will provide a status report on whether Iran has suspended enrichment work in 60 days.

 

The last resolution, adopted last December, saw the UN Security Council take a moderately weaker stance by ordering all states to cease providing Teheran with any materials and technology that could be used in either of the programs. 

 

(Xinhua News Agency April 9, 2007)