THE GUARDIAN: Ahmadinejad speech seen as sign that Tehran is softening its approach to the west
Tehran is preparing new proposals to break the deadlock over its nuclear programme, the Iranian president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, said today in a sign of thawing relations with the west.
Avoiding his usual fiery rhetoric, Ahmadinejad said: "Today we are preparing a new package. Once it becomes ready, we will present that package. It is a package that constitutes peace and justice throughout the globe and also respects other nations' rights."
In an apparent reference to recent overtures from President Barack Obama, and a signal from Washington and Europe that they are prepared to make significant concessions to get Iran to restart nuclear negotiations, Ahmadinejad told a crowd of thousands in Kerman, south-eastern Iran, that circumstances had changed.
But the Iranian leader could not resist boasting that Iran's resistance and progress in nuclear technology had forced Washington to back down.
"You know well that today you are suffering from weaknesses. You have no choice. You can't make any progress through bullying policies," he said. "I advise you to change and correct your tone and respect other nations' rights." >>> Mark Tran and agencies | Wednesday, April 15, 2009
THE WALL STREET JOURNAL: Iran to Unveil Proposals to Break Nuclear Impasse
TEHRAN, Iran -- Iran's president said Wednesday he is willing to forget the past and build a new relationship with the U.S., adding that he is preparing a new package of proposals aimed at breaking the impasse with the West over his country's nuclear program.
The remarks by Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to thousands in the southeastern city of Kerman took a conciliatory tone not usually heard in his speeches.
"The Iranian nation is a generous nation. It may forget the past and start a new era, but any country speaking on the basis of selfishness will get the same response the Iranian nation gave to Mr. Bush," Mr. Ahmadinejad said.
He spoke a day after the Obama administration said its immediate goal is to get Iran back to the negotiating table. Though the U.S. government declined to publicly discuss possible new strategies for dealing with Tehran on the nuclear issue, one senior official said they could involve allowing Iran to continue enriching uranium at its current level for some time.
That concession was agreed two years ago by the U.S. and five other powers -- Russia, China, Britain, France and Germany. But they still want to wrest a commitment from Iran not to increase enrichment while arranging formal negotiations on a permanent nuclear agreement.
Mr. Ahmadinejad said "circumstances have changed" -- an apparent reference to President Barack Obama's election and Iran's own progress in its nuclear program since talks with the world powers last year.
He said Iran welcomes dialogue with the world powers provided that it is based on justice and respect, suggesting the West shouldn't try to force it to halt its uranium enrichment program. >>> Copyright © 2009 Associated Press | Wednesday, April 15, 2009
