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 — not just the United States — 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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