Annan says Iran will not suspend enrichment before talks

“President (Mahmud Ahmadinejad) reaffirmed to me Iran’s preparedness and determination to negotiate and find a solution to the crisis,” Annan told a joint press conference with Iran’s Foreign Minister Manuchehr Mottaki after meeting Ahmadinejad.

The UN chief is on a 10-day regional tour to shore up support for the UN Resolution 1701 on Lebanon.

He expressed hope that the upcoming meeting between Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) Secretary Ali Larijani and European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana in the coming week will bear fruit.

Larijani is to hold talks with Solana on Tehran’s reply to a nuclear offer made by the five permanent Security Council members plus Germany in exchange for suspension of enrichment work.

Annan said his visit helps him get a better understanding of Iran’s nuclear stance, vowing to discuss it with the key UN Security Council members.

Mottaki called on major powers to carefully study Iran’s response and reply as soon as possible.

“We gave our response to 5+1 group’s offer after studying it and now it is their turn to give a response. We are ready to give them more time if needed,” he said.

Annan added Iranian officials and he explored avenues to promote peace not only in Lebanon but in the entire region especially in Syria and Palestine.

He said the Iranian president “reaffirmed his country's support for the implementation of Resolution 1701 and agrees with me that we should do everything to strengthen the territorial integrity of Lebanon.”

"Tehran will work together with us in a collective effort to reconstruct Lebanon," Reuters quoted him as saying.

Iran plays an important role in the region, he said, adding he has received the necessary guarantees from Tehran.

Mottaki added Iran is ready to cooperate with the UN in restoring peace to Lebanon and its borders.

The foreign minister said he has asked Annan to boost efforts to bring an immediate end to the Israeli siege of Lebanon.

UN Resolution 1701 drew up the terms for the cease-fire that halted a 34-day war in Lebanon between Israel and the Lebanese resistance movement Hezbollah.

RS/KK

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MNA