Ahmadinejad Praises Talks, Refuses To Halt Uranium Enrichment

YASOUJ, Iran — President Ahmadinejad today said America's participation in the latest round of nuclear talks is a step toward recognizing Tehran's right to acquire nuclear technology.

A senior diplomat from America joined envoys from five other world powers at Switzerland at Saturday's talks on Iran's nuclear program. Mr. Ahmadinejad told thousands of supporters gathered in the southern Iranian town of Yasouj that Undersecretary of State William Burns "spoke politely and in a dignified manner."

"It was a step toward recognizing the rights of the Iranian nation, toward justice, toward repairing your image in the world, toward cleaning 50 years of crimes you committed against the Iranian nation," Mr. Ahmadinejad said, addressing America.

America and other Western nations accuse Iran of seeking to acquire nuclear weapons and demand that it freeze its uranium enrichment program. Iran says its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes. Mr. Ahmadinejad today again vowed Iran will not "retreat one iota" from pursuing it.

The America participation in the Geneva talks had raised expectations for a compromise under which Iran would agree to stop expanding its enrichment activities. In exchange, the six powers — America and five world powers — would hold off on adopting new U.N. sanctions against Iran.

But Secretary of State Rice on Monday accused Iran of not being serious at the Geneva talks. She said Iran had given the run-around to the envoys, while all six nations were serious about a two-week deadline for Iran to agree to freeze suspect activities and start negotiations or else be hit with new penalties.

Iran already has defied three sets of U.N. sanctions over its uranium enrichment activity.

But recent Iranian pronouncements suggest the Islamic Republic may be looking to improve ties with America, with officials speaking positively to the possibility of opening an interests section in Tehran after closing its embassy here decades ago.

Mr. Ahmadinejad urged America to continue its "positive" attendance in the talks.

"I advise you not to ruin the positive step you took through irrelevant words and claims," he said.