TEHRAN, May 24 (UPI) -- Iran reiterated Wednesday its full readiness to resume "unconditional" negotiations over its controversial nuclear program.
Foreign ministry spokesman Hamid Reza Asafi was quoted by the Iranian News Agency, IRNA, as saying in response to President George W. Bush's remarks on settling the Iranian case through diplomatic means, "We have already announced that this issue can only be resolved through negotiations."
Asafi underscored what he described as "deep differences" between the U.S. and the international community regarding Iran's peaceful nuclear activities and said "America wants to reach an agreement on the basis of its illogical conclusions and through force."
He said Iran's stance on negotiations is shared by Russia which also announced that the talks "should take place without making conditions in advance."
Asafi refused to predict the outcome of a meeting in London Wednesday by world powers to discuss a package of incentives and threats drafted by European countries aimed at defusing a crisis over Iran's nuclear program.
