Iran won’t halt N-work

Tehran, Sept. 7: Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said on Monday Iran will neither halt uranium enrichment nor negotiate over its nuclear rights but is ready to sit and talk with world powers over “global challenges.”
Mr Ahmadinejad also said Iran will present its package of proposals to the five permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany but rejected any deadline for such talks. The hardline Iranian President didn’t specify what will be up for discussion, or if it would even involve its disputed nuclear programme, but vaguely said Iran has prepared a package of proposals that would “identify challenges facing humanity ... and resolve global concerns.”
“From our point of view, Iran’s nuclear issue is over. We continue our work within the framework of global regulations and in close interaction with the IAEA,” he said. “We will never negotiate over obvious rights of the Iranian nation.”
Mr Ahmadinejad also said on Monday he is ready to “debate and talk” with US President Barack Obama in a public meeting before mass media when he heads to the UN General Asse-mbly in September. “I have said it before in Obama’s time and repeat it now that we are ready for debate and talk on global issues — which is the best way to resolve world issues — before mass media,” Mr Ahmadinejad said. Mr Obama and European allies have given Iran until the end of September to take up an offer of nuclear talks with six world powers and enjoy trade incentives should it suspend uranium enrichment activities. If not, Iran could face harsher punitive sanctions.