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Iran's Nuclear Negotiator Calls for Negotiations With IAEA to Resolve
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Nuclear Dispute
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=16329C5:A6F02AD83191E1604F6D95CB122466709574F7DCC14957C0 Ali Larijani tells
security conference in Munich, Germany, Sunday that Tehran does not
want to aggravate the situation in the Middle East





Iran's top nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani speaks during a press
conference in Tehran (File)Iran's top nuclear negotiator says Tehran
is prepared to reach a negotiated settlement to its dispute with the
U.N. nuclear watchdog.

Ali Larijani told a security conference in Munich, Germany, Sunday
that Tehran does not want to aggravate the situation in the Middle
East.

The U.N's International Atomic Energy Agency has suspended some aid to
Iran and criticized Tehran for concealing certain nuclear activities
and failing to answer questions about its nuclear program.

Earlier today, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Tehran will
announce advances in its nuclear program during the next two months.

Mr. Ahmadinejad made the comment to tens of thousands of Iranians at a
rally in Tehran to celebrate the anniversary of the 1979 Islamic
revolution that toppled Iran's U.S.-backed shah.

Mr. Ahmadinejad said Iran's progress in developing nuclear energy will
be gradually made public in the weeks leading up to April 9.

April ninth is the first anniversary of Iran's declaration that it had
enriched uranium for the first time.

Some analysts had expected the Iranian president to announce the
installation of thousands of centrifuges for enriching uranium Sunday.

Mr. Ahmadinejad did not make such an announcement, but said Iran will
not suspend its uranium enrichment work, as demanded by the U.N.
Security Council.

The Council has ordered Iran to stop enrichment by February 21 or face
possible further sanctions.

President Ahmadinejad also said today his government will continue to
abide by the laws of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

Western nations suspect Iran is using its nuclear activities to
develop nuclear weapons. Tehran insists its nuclear program is for the
peaceful generation of power.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.




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