Iranian cleric dismisses U.S. offer

Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati (Iran Daily)

While Iran has not responded publicly to an offer of incentives from six major powers, a leading cleric in the Islamic regime told worshippers at Friday prayers Tehran would not stop making nuclear fuel.

Germany and the five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council – the United States, Britain, France, Russia and China – reportedly offered the package with the condition Iran stop enriching uranium.

Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati – head of Iran's constitutional watchdog, the Guardian Council – dismissed the deal as beneficial only for the foreign nations and "not appropriate for the Iranian people."

In a sermon commemorating the 17th anniversary of the death of Ayatollah Khomeini, Jannati said, according to Asia News, "Iran's right to have access to peaceful nuclear technology is undeniable."

The offer of incentives to Iran has not been made public, but Western diplomats say the U.S. has pledged to join European-led talks and give Tehran a light-water reactor and storage facility for nuclear fuel.

Iran insists it is enriching uranium to a low level with the sole purpose of fueling nuclear power stations. But Tehran has failed to convince the international community it won't enrich uranium to the higher level required for nuclear weapons.

Jerome Corsi, WND columnist and author of "Atomic Iran," called the U.S. offer a "ploy to appear to the world to be bending over backwards and be reasonable," saying, "if Iran wants nuclear materials for peaceful purposes, by all means lets give it to them and more."

The Bush administration, he says, is trying to build its own coalition of support by "being more than reasonable," anticipating Tehran will reject the offer.

He expects the Islamic regime to shift ground again, however, saying that while it won't stop enriching uranium, it will be delighted to have talks.

Corsi says that tactic could succeed as Bush-administration opponents join Tehran in asking, "Why won't the White House talk?"

But the White House must hold its line, requiring Tehran to stop enriching uranium, Corsi insists.

"If we talk to them without requiring them to stop uranium enrichment, then they will have won a major breakthrough on the road to producing all the weapons-grade uranium they need," he said.

Meanwhile, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said last night Tehran will not negotiate its "inalienable right" to uranium enrichment, according to the official Islamic Republic News Agency.

Speaking to families of "martyrs" and war veterans in the northwestern province of Qazvin, Ahmadinejad said certain countries "spread propaganda that if they officially recognize Iran's right to have access to nuclear fuel cycle, it will be tantamount to giving a major concession to our nation."

Ahmadinejad essentially said Iran will dictate the terms of any international talks.

"They should not think that if they hold talks with Iran, it means they have given a concession to the country," he said, according to the state media. "They should know that it is the Iranian nation which accepts to negotiate with them on international issues. This is the Iranian nation who is giving procession to them."

He added, the Western nations "make decisions against Palestine, Iraq and Afghanistan. We intend to hold talks with them on roots of corruption, discrimination and cruelties. In that case, peace will be established in the world and nations throughout the world will enjoy welfare."

Ahmadinejad said the "Iranian nation insists on its inalienable rights and will never give them up. Our nation raises flag of invitation to justice and humanity. My letter to [President Bush] has been written about increasing problems in the world."

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