Iran: Sanctions make nuke talks with US futile

Associated Press

TEHRAN, Iran

American proposals for direct talks with Iran are pointless while Washington is “holding a gun” to the country through sanctions, Iran’s supreme leader said Thursday, quashing a possible breakthrough in contacts with the West over the nuclear standoff.

The message from Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has the final say in all major decisions in Iran, was reiterated by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad during a news conference in Cairo later in the day.

Their dismissal of one-on-one dialogue raises the stakes when wider negotiations between Iran and world powers, including the United States, resume this month.

Another dead-end round — after three stalemated sessions last year — could fuel accusations by Israel and others that Iran is using the talks as a stalling tactic while it gets closer to having the capabilities to build a nuclear weapon.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has warned that the world has until this summer — at the latest — to keep Iran from building a bomb. He has hinted that Israel could attack unilaterally if all other efforts fail.

Iran denies it seeks atomic arms, saying its nuclear fuel is only for energy-producing reactors and medical applications. Iran officials frequently have called attention to a religious edict by Khamenei that says nuclear arms are contrary to Islamic beliefs.

“Talks are held to arrive at an understanding, not to impose anything,” Ahmadinejad said. “Such talks will be meaningless if someone raises a club and imposes” something on Iran, he added.

Talks would be productive only if they were based on mutual respect, he said. “Things will be fine if the Americans correct the manner in which they address us.”