Iran to continue uranium enrichment

Iran 's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad Wednesday rejected a possible European offer for incentives, including a light-water nuclear reactor, in return for giving up uranium enrichment. "Do you think you are dealing with a 4-year old child to whom you can give some walnuts and chocolates and get gold from him?" Ahmadinejad told thousands of people in central Iran .

Photo: Iran to continue uranium enrichment

European nations have weighed adding a light-water reactor to a package of incentives meant to persuade Tehran to permanently give up uranium enrichment or face the threat of U.N. Security Council sanctions.

Senior diplomats and EU government officials said Tuesday that the tentative plans were being discussed among France , Britain and Germany as part of a possible package to be presented to senior representatives of the five permanent U.N. Security Council members at a meeting in London . All spoke on condition of anonymity because of the confidential nature of the information. "The Iranian nation won't accept any suspension or end" to its uranium enrichment activities, Ahmadinejad said in a speech broadcast live on state television.

Iran trusted the European Union in 2003 and suspended its nuclear activities, the Iranian president added, but the Europeans ultimately said the solution was for Iran not to enrich uranium. "We won't be bitten twice," Ahmadinejad said, referring to an Iranian proverb about not repeating a mistake. "We recommend that you not sacrifice your interests for the sake of others," he said, in an apparently warning to the EU about supporting the position advocated by the U.S, reports the AP.

N.U.