Iran president says nuclear foes "mentally-ill"

By Staff
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Google Oneindia News

TEHRAN, May 18: Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad poked fun at opponents of his country's nuclear programme today, saying they were suffering from mental problems, Iran's student news agency ISNA said.

''Those who get sad at the progress and happiness of others are suffering from mental and psychological problems, so they should find a way to cure themselves,'' Ahmadinejad said in a speech in the town of Zarandiyeh in central Iran.

The United States and its European Union allies want Iran to end uranium enrichment activities as a guarantee that it will not make atomic weapons.

Iran says it has right to nuclear technology and wants the fuel only for producing electricity.

Since his election last year, the hardline president has needled critics of Iran's nuclear programme, raising tensions with the United States and the EU.

''We do not have a fight with anyone, but we will not step back on our absolute rights,'' Ahmadinejad said.

Iran says it has enriched uranium to 4.8 per cent, at the top end of the 3 to 5 per cent range for fuel used in nuclear power plants, but far below the 80 per cent level needed for weapons.

Ahamdinejad said billions of people in the world support Iran's right to nuclear technology.

''More than two billion people were happy and celebrated when they heard the news about Iran's nuclear achievement,'' Ahmadinejad said today.

Britain, France and Germany plan to offer Iran a package of incentives to induce Tehran to freeze a uranium enrichment programme that the West suspects has military dimensions.

Ahmadinejad turned down the expected European incentives in return for halting uranium enrichment, saying it was like trading ''candy for gold''.

An EU trio of Britain, France and Germany want to offer Iran security guarantees as a key incentive to freeze its nuclear enrichment programme.

The European offer will be discussed in detail at a meeting of senior EU, US, Russian and Chinese officials next week in London.

EU officials say security guarantees are the major sticking point affecting their ability to produce a credible package to include an offer to build a light-water nuclear reactor.

European diplomats involved in the process say only the United States can guarantee Iran's security, but Washington refuses to do so.

REUTERS

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