Originally published by the Voice of America (www.voanews.com).
Voice of America is funded by the US Federal Government and content it
exclusively produces is in the public domain.

Iran Rejects UN Appeal for Nuclear Freeze
-----------------------------------------

http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=11CB90C:3919ACA Top negotiator Ali
Larijani met with IAEA chief Mohamed ElBaradei in Tehran Thursday Iran
has rejected an appeal from the head of the International Atomic
Energy Agency to suspend its uranium enrichment activities.







Mohamed ElBaradei holds press conference with Ali Larijani, right, in
Tehran, ThursdayIran's top nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani met with
IAEA chief Mohamed ElBaradei in Tehran Thursday. Afterward he said
such demands are not important.

ElBaradei said Iran reiterated its promise to clarify outstanding
issues regarding its nuclear program. He said he has yet to confirm
Iran's claim of enriching uranium to a level used in nuclear power
plants - a breakthrough Tehran announced Tuesday.

In Washington, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Iran
could face escalating international penalties if it ignores a U.N.
Security Council demand to halt its nuclear work. She said one option
is the chapter seven resolution of the U.N. charter, which could allow
for sanctions against Iran.

Last month, the Security Council gave Iran 30 days to suspend uranium
enrichment. The IAEA chief is expected to report to the U.N. body on
Iran's compliance by April 28.

The United States accuses Iran of running a secret nuclear weapons
program - a charge Tehran denies.

China's Assistant Foreign Minister Cui Tiankai is to begin Friday, a
trip to Iran and Russia in an attempt to defuse the Iranian nuclear
issue.


.