Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad still affirms Iran's right topursue a nuclear program, but says he is open to discuss the "peacefuluse" of nuclear energy. His statement follows Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez's agreement tosupply Iran with 20,000 barrels of petrol a day.
Ata news conference, Mr. Ahmadinejad said the Islamic Republic is willingto discuss the peaceful use of nuclear energy and the challenges facingthe world. But he ruled out any talks about the Iran nuclear program'sright to exist.
U.S. President Barack Obama has set an end ofSeptember deadline for Iran to discuss its disputed nuclear programwith world powers.
Executive Director of the British-AmericanInformation Security Council Paul Ingram says Mr. Ahmadinejad's remarkswill not build global confidence in the Obama administration'snuclear-disarmament program.
"Theproblem really resides in the approach that has been taken up to now isnot working. And I do not think it has a prospect of working. TheIranians have been quite clear that they will continue their enrichmentprocess. They will weather the sanction storm, and there is no signthat it is going to change," Ingram said.
He argued that the Obama administration should develop a new strategy to appeal to the Iranian government.
Mr.Ahmadinejad has just agreed on a deal with its closest South Americanally, Venezuela. Wrapping up a two-day visit to Iran, VenezuelanPresident Hugo Chavez says his country will sell Iran 20,000 barrels ofpetrol a day, a deal Mr. Chavez says is worth $800 million.
Hesays the plan is to begin in October, along with an Iranian andVenezuelan joint bank. This would mean Iran and Venezuela would berequired to deposit $100 million within the next 30 days.
At a news conference, Mr. Ahmadinejad says the countries have united to form an anti-imperialist front.
Ingram said the United States and its allies should tread lightly to avoid an ideological conflict and political isolation.
"BecauseI think, in the end, the power that is in Venezuela and Iran and othercountries, particularly given their oil reserves, is such that we cannotafford to have them outside the international community," Ingram said.
The international community will have to continue to wait as Mr. Ahmadinejad's end of September deadline draws nearer.