TEHRAN, May 12 (UPI) -- Iran's top nuclear negotiator said his country's atomic program will not be deterred by threats from Western countries.
Ali Larijani called it a waste of time to try and convince Iran to halt its nuclear program within the two week deadline set by the United Nations Security Council, Iran's official Press TV reported Saturday.
Larijani has begun what he said are "progressive" nuclear negotiations with Javiar Solana, the foreign policy czar of the European Union.
"Iran is a powerful nation in the region and has positive potentials to stabilize and secure the region," Larijani said, emphasizing, "Iran's nuclear dossier can be peacefully resolved if world leaders rethink the matter."
Larijani said no date had been set for his next meeting with Solana.
On other matters, Larijani dismissed U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney's visit this week to the Middle East, calling it irrelevant to the future of Iraq.
Larijani predicted any new strategies implemented by the United States in Iraq would prove ineffective, Press TV said.
