WORLD / Middle East

Iran says it's ready to negotiate
(AP)
Updated: 2006-05-11 22:27

The Chinese and Russians have balked at the British, French and U.S. efforts to put the resolution under Chapter 7 of the U.N. Charter. Such a move would declare Iran a threat to international peace and security and set the stage for further measures if Tehran refuses to suspend its uranium enrichment operations. Those measures could range from breaking diplomatic relations to economic sanctions and military action.

Ahmadinejad told cheering crowds of students in the Indonesian capital that it was the right of every country ¡ª not just the United States ¡ª to use new technology to meet energy needs. The United States accuses Iran of seeking to develop nuclear weapons, a charge Tehran denies, saying it aims only to generate energy.

"We are not only defending our rights, we are defending the rights of many other countries," he added. "By maintaining our position, we are defending our independence."

Ahmadinejad also said Western nations with large stocks of nuclear weapons were practicing "double standards" in pressing Iran to stop its "peaceful" nuclear program.

"The big powers ... have a lot of nuclear weapons in their warehouse," he told about 1,000 students at Islamic University on Jakarta's southern outskirts.

"We want to use technology for peace and the welfare of the Muslim people around the world," he said. "But they want to use it to invade other countries. This is the difference between us and them."
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