Iran rejects talks on nuclear program: Japanese official

UNITED NATIONS, Sept 22, 2009 (AFP) - Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki Tuesday renewed Tehran's refusal to discuss its suspect nuclear program and urged the US to work for a compromise, a Japanese official said.

Mottaki's comments came in talks with his Japanese counterpart Katsuya Okada on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, a Japanese government official said.

"Iranian people respect dialogue, but we are not willing to hold negotiations on our rights," Mottaki told Okada, according to the official, who spoke to reporters on condition of anonymity.

"While President (Barack) Obama calls for change in his slogan," the Iranian minister told Okada, "I hope he can prove it not just through words but also through actions. It's time for us to nail down such actions."

Washington has warned that Iran, which Western nations fear is secretly developing nuclear weapons under the guise of its civilian nuclear power program, will face further sanctions if it shies away from talks.

Tehran denies the charge and maintains its program aims to promote global nuclear disarmament.

During the meeting, Mottaki said his country could work with Japan, the only nation to be hit by atomic bombs, to "bring an end to nuclear weapons," the official said.

"Iran does not have any desire to have nuclear weapons at all," Mottaki told Okada. "The era of nuclear weapons is over."

While underlining the traditionally friendly ties between Japan and Iran, Okada voiced "regret" at Tehran's failure to allay suspicions over its nuclear program and urged the Islamic republic to return to the negotiations.

In a separate meeting with Okada, British Foreign Secretary David Miliband also said Japan's role in the dispute would become more critical now the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has appointed Yukiya Amano of Japan as its new chief.

Miliband said the role of Amano, who will officially become new IAEA director general on December 1, will be "extremely important," adding Iran must take global concerns "seriously," another Japanese official said.


by Gavin Rabinowitz
(c) 2009 AFP