Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

Iran prepared for nuclear talks without preconditions - official

RIA Novosti

04/03/2007 13:27 TEHRAN, March 4 (RIA Novosti) - Iran is prepared for negotiations without preconditions will all interested parties on its nuclear program, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Mohammad Ali Hosseini said Sunday.

Iran has been at the center of international concerns since January 2006 over its nuclear program, which some countries, particularly the United States, suspect is geared toward nuclear weapons development. Tehran has consistently denied the claims, and says it needs nuclear power for civilian purposes.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reported February 23 that Iran had ignored a UN Security Council demand to halt its uranium enrichment program and was seeking to expand the program.

In December, the UN Security Council imposed limited sanctions on Iran over its reluctance to suspend uranium enrichment and set a deadline that expired Wednesday. The Islamic Republic that insists its nuclear program is peaceful ignored the deadline and could now face stringent sanctions and isolation.