Ahmadinejad may consider ending uranium enrichment

If world powers send nuclear fuel which can be used to produce medical isotopes, Teheran will consider halting enrichment says Iranian president.

By ASSOCIATED PRESS
Ahmadinejad NY press conf 311 (photo credit: Associated Press)
Ahmadinejad NY press conf 311
(photo credit: Associated Press)
NEW YORK – Iran would consider ending uranium enrichment, the most crucial part of its controversial nuclear activities, if world powers send Teheran nuclear fuel for a medical research reactor, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad told reporters Friday.
Addressing a packed press conference in a New York hotel, Ahmadinejad said Iran had no interest in enriching uranium from around 3.5 percent to 20 percent purity but was forced to do so after the world powers refused to provide nuclear fuel that is needed for a Teheran reactor that produces medical isotopes for patients. That level is far below the more than 90 percent purity needed to build a nuclear weapon, but US officials have expressed concern Iran may be moving closer to an ability to reach weapons-grade level.
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"We were not interested to carry out 20 percent enrichment. They (the US and its allies) politicized the issue. We were forced to do it to support the (medical) patients," Ahmadinejad said in response to a question from The Associated Press. "We will consider halting uranium enrichment whenever nuclear fuel is provided to us."
Ahmadinejad also said Iran was prepared to set a date for resumption of talks with six world powers to discuss Teheran's nuclear program, saying October would be the likely time for the two sides to meet.
Ahmadinejad also defended his remarks at the UN a day earlier in which he claimed most people in the world believe the United States was behind the September 11, 2001 terror attacks and again challenged the United Nations to set up a commission to probe the attacks.
"I did not pass judgment, but don't you feel that the time has come to have a fact finding committee?" Ahmadinejad asked.
Teheran began higher enrichment in February after talks stalled over a UN-brokered proposal that the United States hoped would — at least temporarily — leave Iran unable to produce a warhead.
Ahmadinejad said pressure was counterproductive, but respectful talks will bear fruit.
"The era of following a policy of carrot and stick is over. Even such words are insulting to nations. It's only good for cowboys and those of retarded people. Definitely it has no effect," he said. "They issued resolutions as talks were underway. Still, we are ready for talks."
The Iranian leader said an Iranian representative will probably meet with members of the five permanent members of the Security Council — the US, Britain, France, Russia and China as well as Germany in October.
He suggested that a specific date could be set should European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton contact Iran.
"Probably in October; we are ready for talks. The doors are open for talks within the framework of justice and respect," he said. However, he warned that Iran won't give in to pressure. "They are definitely mistaken if they think they can trample the rights of the Iranian nation through coercion in the talks."
In his one and a half hour session with reporters, Ahmadinejad also lashed out at the US wars in Iraq and Afghanistan as an overreaction to the September 11 attacks. The Americans should "not occupy the entire Middle East...bomb wedding parties...annihilate an entire village just because one terrorist is hiding there."
Ahmadinejad also gave no ground on his September 11 remarks in a feisty interview on Fox News in which he was asked he you could insult millions of Americans by saying "such an insane and nutty thing."
"Would you address your own president the same way? Would they ever allow you to?," replied Ahmadinejad, adding that he felt insulted by the interviewer.
Ahmadinejad said a commission should investigate the Sept. 11 attacks rather than have the entire world just accept what the US government tells them.
"The fact-finding mission can shed light on who the perpetrators were, who is Al-Qaida ... where does it exist? Who was it backed by and supported? All these should come to light," he said.