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Iran will not give up what it calls its right to enrich uranium, as demanded by the West, but is ready to hold talks with the United States, Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said on Thursday.
"We will not give up our nation's natural right (to enrichment), we will not hold talks over it. But we are ready to hold talks over mutual concerns," Mottaki said in response to a U.S. offer of talks if Iran gave up enrichment activities.
The United States announced the day before it had decided to conditionally agree to take part in talks with Iran on the nuclear issue.
In a policy shift toward a long-time foe, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said on Wednesday the U.S. would open talks with Iran if Tehran verifiably suspended its nuclear enrichment and reprocessing activities. [...]
U.S. President George Bush spoke Wednesday morning with Prime Minister Ehud Olmert to give him an advance heads-up on the American decision.
Sources in Washington told Haaretz that the Olmert-Bush conversation was preceded by a discussion on the same matter between Rice and Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni.
Rice telephoned Livni before her press conference to update the foreign minister on the change in the American position vis-a-vis Iran.
Livni subsequently released a statement expressing support for the new American stance: "Israel appreciates the steps and measures by the United States in continuing to lead the international coalition and in taking all necessary steps to prevent Iran from gaining nuclear capability. Israel supports the efforts of the United States on this matter."
The possibility of talks between the U.S. and Iran was not directly discussed during Olmert's visit to the U.S. last week.
The Israeli embassy in Washington had notified the Foreign Ministry several weeks ago the U.S. might decide to join negotiations with Tehran if the Iranians met certain conditions.