Iran rebuffs U.S. demand on enrichment   (AP)  Updated: 2006-06-01 20:50  
Iran's foreign minister on Thursday welcomed direct talks 
with Washington on his country's disputed nuclear program but rebuffed a U.S. 
proposal that Tehran must suspend uranium enrichment as a condition, state-run 
television reported. 
 
 
 
 
   Iranian Foreign Minister, Manouchehr Mottaki, 
 speaks with the media in Tehran, Iran, Thursday, June 1, 2006. Mottaki on 
 Thursday welcomed direct talks with Washington but rebuffed a U.S. 
 proposal that Tehran must suspend uranium enrichment as a condition of 
 such talks, state-run television reported. [AP] 
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 "Iran welcomes dialogue under just conditions but (we) won't give up our 
(nuclear) rights," the television quoted Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki as 
saying. 
 "We won't negotiate about the Iranian nation's natural nuclear rights but we 
are prepared, within a defined, just framework and without any discrimination, 
to hold dialogue about (our) common concerns," he added. 
 Mottaki's statement was the country's first direct reaction to an 
announcement by the United States on Wednesday that it is willing to join other 
countries for face-to-face talks with Iran, as long as Tehran stops enriching 
uranium. 
 "Our message to the Iranians is that one, you won't have a weapon, and two, 
that you must verifiably suspend any programs at which point we will come to the 
negotiating table to work on a way forward," President Bush said Wednesday. 
 "I thought it was important for the United States to take the lead — along 
with our partners," Bush said. "And that's what you're seeing. You're seeing 
robust diplomacy. I believe this problem can be solved diplomatically and I'm 
going to give it every effort to do so." 
 Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said at the State Department the United 
States will come to the negotiating table as soon as Iran fully and verifiably 
suspends its enrichment and reprocessing activities. She said the United States 
was taking the move to underscore its commitment to a diplomatic solution and to 
enhance prospects for success. 
 Mottaki said Iran has no intention to halt its uranium enrichment program. 
 "There is no evidence proving Iran's diversion (toward nuclear weapons). 
Therefore, Iran is interested in continuing this path," he 
said.   
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