Iranian president vows fresh start with the West

Los Angeles Times

TEHRAN, Iran — Iran’s hard-line president said Wednesday he would soon unveil proposals to resolve the international impasse over his country’s nuclear program and offered a fresh start with the West, an announcement that comes as he struggles to shore up domestic support ahead of presidential elections in June.

“We are preparing a new package to be presented, and we will hold talks based on that package, which includes peace and justice across the globe, respecting the rights of all nations and participation of all nations and countries in resolving international issues,” Mahmoud Ahmadinejad told supporters gathered in the oasis city of Kerman.

“The Iranian nation is a generous nation,” he said later. “It may forget the past and start a new era.”

Ahmadinejad revealed no details about the proposals.

One conservative Iranian lawmaker said the new proposal would have a “moderate” tone but would not raise the issue of Iran’s enrichment of uranium, which the West wants stopped.