Iran refuses talks with US, will limit IAEA access to nuke sites
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
By: ICEJ News

Tehran defiant in face of mounting foreign, domestic pressures

Iranian officials are refusing to negotiate with the US and threatening to end any cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency over its renegade nuclear program, despite tighter international sanctions and mounting domestic unrest over economic and political grievances.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Tuesday that Iran is not working seriously with the IAEA to resolve lingering concerns over its nuclear program. Her comments likely relate to a bill now being drafted in the Iranian parliament which would curtail the country's ties with the UN atomic watchdog agency and severely restrict IAEA access to its nuclear facilities. The bill has been given top priority in parliament and is in response to the new UN sanctions imposed on the Islamic Republic.

Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehman-Parast told reporters on Tuesday that, “No meeting between Iranian and US officials is possible due to the US hostile policies and its efforts to issue anti-Iran resolutions, impose unilateral sanctions against the country and its unacceptable behavior against Iranian nationals." Other officials echoed his comments even as the economic crisis inside the country appeared to worsen.

Scattered reports of shortages on everything from fuel and electricity to basic food staples have been backed up by former Iranian President Bani Sadr, currently living in exile in France, who told VOA Radio on Tuesday that merchants in the bazaars of Tehran and other major cities have been striking for the last ten days. The strike among Iran’s bell-weather merchant class started in response to a proposed 70% tax on bazaar transactions, but has continued even though the government backed down as many merchants loudly complained that the government’s policies are ruining the country’s economy.

In related news, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehman-Parast on Tuesday lashed out at Russian President Dmitry Medvedev's toughening position on Iran’s nuclear program, saying that Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki has already explained Iran’s “peaceful nuclear program” to the Russians.

“We have clarified our strategy in nuclear program to the international community and maintained that Iranian nuclear activities are totally peaceful,” he said. “Why aren't you concerned about the nuke military program of the Zionist regime that has stockpiled over 200 nuclear warheads, posing threats to the countries in the region? We advise all countries to consider real threats prior to making any comments on nuclear activities of other countries."

Elsewhere, EU foreign affairs chief Catherine Ashton met Mottaki on the sidelines of an international summit in Kabul, Afghanistan on Tuesday and expressed her readiness to hold talks with Tehran, according to Iran’s official ISNA news agency. Ashton said she “was ready to start nuclear negotiations and that we are in contact with the Islamic republic and we are serious to find a solution acceptable for both the parties."

The EU is scheduled to hold a vote next week on further tightening sanctions against Iran and several European diplomats are reported to be quietly urging Iran to cooperate with the P5+1 powers to avoid a costly conflict.