Iran says no again to nuke moratorium

TEHRAN, June 21 (UPI) -- Iranian negotiators say they won't discuss a moratorium on their uranium enrichment activities in exchange for a package of incentives from the West.

Government spokesman Gholamhossein Elham said Saturday a moratorium is not the table as Iran considers a revised incentives package from European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana, RIA Novosti reported.

"Suspending uranium enrichment is illogical, it is an issue unacceptable for discussion," Elham said. "Our response to the package of proposals by the six mediators and further talks will not be linked to the moratorium."

The latest comments continue a series of rejections issued by Iran to international demands that it halt its uranium enrichment as a prerequisite for talks on the incentives, which include Western help for a civilian nuclear energy program.

The United States and its allies suspect Iran is secretly developing a weapons capability as part of its nuclear power program, which Iran insists is for peaceful purposes.