A government spokesperson said on Monday that Iran will be ready to talk to the United States about its nuclear programme but without preconditions, Isna students’ news agency reported.
”If the US put no preconditions and adopted a peaceful approach, then we would consider resuming talks,” the spokesperson, Abdullah Ramezanzadeh, said.
”But if they come up with threats, then we will react accordingly,” he added in reference to recent military threats from Washington against Iran.
The US has accused Iran of developing weapons of mass destruction and of trying to undermine its efforts in Iraq.
Ramezanzadeh said Iran has always acted in coordination with the International Atomic Energy Agency and has undertaken no clandestine nuclear projects.
”The only reason for these threats are futile efforts by Washington to undermine our talks with the European Union,” Ramezanzadeh said.
The EU is seeking a negotiated deal with Tehran in which the country agrees to verifiable moves under which its nuclear programme would be limited to non-military use.
However, the Israeli Mossad intelligence agency said on Monday Iran will soon have the ability to produce an atomic bomb.
Mossad head Meir Dagan said: ”Iran will in the near future reach a point of no return, after which it will be able to create enriched material without needing external help.”
”From there the road to a nuclear bomb is close,” Israeli media quoted him as telling the Knesset (Parliament) Foreign Affairs and Defence Committee.
Dagan accused the international community of not doing enough to stop the Iranian nuclear programme.
Meanwhile, German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder said on Monday that he opposes the use of military force against Iran over the country’s nuclear programme.
Schröder, at a news briefing with Chile’s President Ricardo Lagos, said the goal of EU talks with the Iranian leadership is clear: to prevent the country from getting nuclear weapons.
”This should happen with diplomatic — not military measures,” said Schröder.
Germany strongly opposed the US-led Iraq war in 2003. — Sapa-DPA