The United States reiterated on Wednesday that it will not deal
directly with Iran unless it gives up sensitive uranium enrichment
work.
"Iran can have a full set of discussions with the United States
on any subject it wishes if it complies with the basic requirements
of UN Security Council resolutions," State Department deputy
spokesman Tom Casey told reporters.
In response to Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's remarks
that Tehran could reconsider its relations with Washington if the
Bush Administration changes its policy against Iran, Casey said
"The behavior that needs to change is the Iranians, not the United
States."
On Monday, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said she would
not rule out possibility to have bilateral meeting with Iran if
Tehran agrees to suspend enrichment of uranium.
In late February, Rice said she was prepared to meet her
counterpart or an Iranian representative at any time if Iran would
suspend its enrichment and reprocessing activities.
Previously, Rice has said she would meet with Iran only in a
multilateral context, along with other nations dealing with Iran
over its nuclear ambitions.
The United States has been accusing Iran of trying to develop
nuclear weapons under the cover of a civilian program. Iran always
denies the charges.
(Xinhua News Agency April 5, 2007)
