'Iran ready for more sanctions'

A defiant President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said yesterday Iran is ready to face more sanctions over its nuclear programme and will not bow to pressure in meeting any deadline set by world powers.

"No one can impose sanctions on Iran anymore. We welcome sanctions. We have given our proposed package," Mr Ahmadinejad told reporters after parliament strongly backed 18 of the 21 members of his proposed new cabinet.

He was referring to Tehran's package of proposals that would form the basis of fresh talks with world powers over its nuclear drive.

Iran's top nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili said yesterday that the updated package will be delivered to world powers "in the coming week."

Mr Ahmadinejad will go to the UN General Assembly meeting in New York later this month "to encourage Iranian views in managing the world," his chief of staff Esfandiar Rahim Mashaie announced.

The EU is keen to study any new offer from Tehran on its nuclear ambitions, though it has not yet received the new package, an EU official said yesterday.

Iran's strong stance comes after the US and five other world powers - Britain, China, Russia, France and Germany - pressed the Islamic republic on Wednesday to accept an offer of face-to-face nuclear talks before the key UN meeting.

Senior diplomats from the six world powers, known as P5+1, and the EU, met in Frankfurt on Wednesday urging Iran to accept their offer of direct talks.

Foreign ministry spokesman Hassan Ghashghavi said Iran will not bow to "threat and pressure" in meeting any deadline set by world powers.

"We are a nation which believes in dialogue and interaction, but if they (six world powers) want to set up a deadline using threat and pressure, it is not acceptable," the official Irna news agency yesterday quoted Mr Ghashghavi as saying.

Iran insists its nuclear work is peaceful but Western countries allege that Tehran wants atomic weapons. The UN Security Council has slapped three rounds of sanctions on the country and pressure is growing for more.

Mr Ghashghavi said the issue of Iran's nuclear plans must be dealt by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and not by the UN Security Council.

He also dismissed the threat of further sanctions if Iran fails to talk with global powers.

"We have said this many times that sanctions is a rusty sword which has no effect. There is no reason for retreat, but we are committed to our international obligations," he added.