Iran flatly refuses to accept Europeans' nuclear demand

Tehran Times (AFP) :

Negotiators from Iran and the European Union met Wednesday in Geneva on Tehran's nuclear program, with Iran flatly refusing to accede to the Europeans' key demand that it abandon uranium enrichment. ...

Iran said Tuesday it had already gone far enough in providing "objective guarantees" that its nuclear intentions are peaceful and warned that a refusal by the European Union to accept this would bring negotiations to a dead-end. read more

Ali Agha Mohammadi, a spokesman for Iran's Supreme National Security Council, told state television in Tehran that "Iran has given its objective guarantees and the Europeans should give their guarantees" that Tehran can continue with fuel cycle work, which is permitted by the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) if for peaceful purposes.

The European trio began this round of talks on Tuesday in Geneva, first discussing political and security benefits Iran could get.

The talks on the nuclear dossier, the key to agreement on any other matters, began Wednesday, a diplomat close to the negotiations told AFP.