Iran's President Seeks Open Discussion on Nuclear Issues with World Powers

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has stated that he expects an open discussion on nuclear issues during a planned meeting with US officials and five other world powers, but emphasized that Iran is not interested in discussing pressure to restrain its nuclear program. The meeting, scheduled for October 1, marks the first of its kind since US President Barack Obama took office. Iran insists its nuclear program is for electricity production, but the US and its European allies believe Tehran is attempting to build a nuclear bomb.

Key Takeaways:

• Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad expects open discussion on nuclear issues during the October 1 meeting with US officials and five other world powers.
• Iran is not interested in discussing pressure to restrain its nuclear program, maintaining that its program is for electricity production.
• The meeting is the first of its kind since US President Barack Obama took office.
• Iran's foreign minister, Manouchehr Mottaki, has stated that Tehran wants to cooperate with Japan in abolishing nuclear weapons and push for expanded opportunities for all countries to use nuclear power for peaceful purposes.
• Japan's foreign minister, Katsuya Okada, has expressed a desire for frank discussions with the Obama administration on Iran's nuclear activities and emphasized that it is a pity suspicion hangs over Iran's nuclear activities.
• Hillary Clinton, the US secretary of state, has stated that the discussions must address the nuclear issue during the forthcoming summit, but Iran has insisted that its nuclear activities will not be on the agenda.

Statistics:

• 6 world powers are scheduled to meet with Iran to discuss nuclear issues: the US, China, Russia, Germany, France, and Britain.
• The meeting is the first of its kind since US President Barack Obama took office.
• Iran has stated its intention to buy enriched uranium for its nuclear power plants.
• Japan's cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki have suffered nuclear attacks, and the country is the only one to have faced such an attack.
• Manouchehr Mottaki, the Iranian foreign minister, has stated that Tehran has no intention of acquiring nuclear weapons.

Sources:

• Associated Press news agency, New York, 9/23/2009
• Aljazeera.net, 2003-2009
• Syndigate.info an Albawaba.com company