President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Wednesday said Iran would not negotiate on its "undeniable right" to have a nuclear programme, again rejecting international demands that the Islamic republic freeze sensitive atomic work.
"We are for negotiations, we are for dialogue. But of course we will not negotiate our undeniable rights with anyone," the president told a rally in the northwestern town of Shabestar.
Quoted by state radio, the president said Iran would be ready to "negotiate about the world's problems, and common concerns and ways of disarmament in the world, and the prevention of (peaceful) nuclear technology being diverted."
"We are ready to negotiate in a fair atmosphere, but if it becomes unfair, the Iranian people will stand up and will not give up an iota of their rights," he added.
Iran insists its nuclear programme is strictly peaceful and considers uranium enrichment work to be an "undeniable right" under the Non-Proliferation Treaty.
But enrichment to make reactor fuel can be extended to make weapons, resulting in demands the country suspend the process and show greater cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency.
{{/usCountry}}But enrichment to make reactor fuel can be extended to make weapons, resulting in demands the country suspend the process and show greater cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency.
{{/usCountry}}World powers are seeking a rapid response from Iran to a package of economic and political incentives -- presented to Iran on June 6 -- designed to persuade it to freeze uranium enrichment.