Iran defiant on nuclear rights

Iran yesterday stood firm against intense new international pressure over its disputed nuclear programme, and Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin warned the West against staging an attack.

Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei insisted that Iran must defend its right to nuclear power as world powers demanded urgent talks with Tehran on its nuclear drive and Washington insisted there was nothing in its new proposals.

"We must stand firm for our rights. If we give up our rights, whether nuclear or other rights, this will lead to decline" of society, said Ayatollah Khamenei, who has the final say in all national issues.

He spoke two days after Tehran delivered a new package of proposals to six world powers to help resolve the stalemate over its atomic drive.

The so-called P5+1 - Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia and the United States - are to seek an urgent meeting with Tehran, Cristina Gallach, spokesman for EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana, said.

France said Iran has not responded to requests for talks on its nuclear programme, and called on Tehran to attend a multilateral meeting before the UN General Assembly later this month.

Iran's package "does not constitute a response to the proposals for negotiations on the Iranian nuclear programme," foreign ministry spokesman Christine Fages said in Paris.

The world powers have given Tehran a late September deadline to begin negotiations or face more sanctions. Tehran is already under three sets of UN sanctions.

Washington has also expressed disappointment over Iran's package.

"It is not really responsive to our greatest concern, which is obviously Iran's nuclear programme," Philip Crowley, assistant secretary of state for public affairs, said.

A senior State Department official, speaking on condition of anonymity, added later: "There's nothing really new in the package itself."

While warning that any attack on Iran over its nuclear project would be unacceptable, Russia's Putin also urged Tehran to show restraint.

"This would be very dangerous, unacceptable, this would lead to an explosion of terrorism, increase the influence of extremists," he said when asked about the possibility of an attack.

"I doubt very much that such strikes would achieve their stated goal.

"The Iranians should show res-traint in their nuclear programme. We have told Iran that it has the right to a civilian nuclear programme but that it should understand what region of the world it is in," Mr Putin said.