(14 May 2006)
1. Hamid Reza Asefi, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman approaching the lectern
2. Cutaway close-up of hand writing
3. Reporters at Asefi's news conference
4. SOUNDBITE (Farsi): Hamid Reza Asefi, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman:
"Any proposal or incentive should first recognise Iran's rights and secondly it should guarantee the ways of achieving it."
5. Wide of news conference
6. SOUNDBITE (Farsi): Hamid Reza Asefi, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman:
"The only solution for the nuclear impasse is talks and talks and only talks. The other side is making a big mistake if it thinks that they can take results by using force, sanctions and intimidation."
7. Reporters
8. SOUNDBITE (Farsi): Hamid Reza Asefi, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman:
"Nuclear research activities are on the agenda, we should not return to the past and should think of the future. We have announced it before that if Iran's dossier is returned to the Agency, we are ready for further negotiations and cooperation."
9. Wide of Asefi and reporters
10. SOUNDBITE (Farsi): Hamid Reza Asefi, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman: (referring to the new uranium traces found in Lavizan nuclear research site)
"It's insignificant. It's not important. Previously, things like this
were said but later inspectors arrived at the right conclusions. During the last few days Mr. ElBaradei announced that the news was valueless and invalid."
11. Cutaway of reporters
12. SOUNDBITE (Farsi): Hamid Reza Asefi, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman: (speaking about the killing of innocent people in south-east of Iran on Saturday)
"We cannot comment on foreigners' involvement (in the killing of innocent people in south-east of Iran) yet. Although foreign involvement in the same incidents before was proven."
13. Reporters at presser
14. Hamid Reza Asefi leaving the presser
STORYLINE:
An Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman said on Sunday that the only way to solve the nuclear issue was through talks and that it would be a mistake to use force to settle the dispute.
"The only solution for the nuclear impasse is talks and talks and only talks. The other side is making a big mistake if it thinks that they can take results by using force, sanctions and intimidation," said Foreign Ministry Spokesman, Hamid Reza Asefi at a news conference in Tehran.
European governments are seeking to build on a package of economic and political incentives offered to Iran in August last year in return for a permanent end to its uranium enrichment activities.
Iran rejected last year's offer but the Europeans have tried to sweeten the proposal amid expectations that they will join the United States in urging the United Nations to take steps that could lead to sanctions if Iran refuses.
Several countries, including the United States, accuse Iran of seeking to develop nuclear weapons.
Tehran says its aims are peaceful and that it is enriching uranium to fuel electricity-generating nuclear power plants.
Asefi downplayed reports that inspectors from the UN nuclear watchdog found traces of highly enriched uranium on equipment from an Iranian research centre.
"It's insignificant. It's not important. Previously, things like this were said but later inspectors arrived at the right conclusions," said Asefi.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) determined earlier traces of highly enriched uranium were imported on equipment from Pakistan that Iran bought on the black market during nearly two decades of clandestine activity.
The US argues that such reports strengthen suspicions that Tehran wants to develop nuclear arms.
Find out more about AP Archive: [ Ссылка ]
Twitter: [ Ссылка ]
Facebook: [ Ссылка ]
Instagram: [ Ссылка ]
You can license this story through AP Archive: [ Ссылка ]
