Nuke cannot bring superiority, says Iran
2012-02-17 18:50
Islamabad - Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said on Friday that nuclear-armed nations were not superior to others, a day after his sanctions-hit government told world powers it was ready to resume stalled atomic talks.
"[The] nuclear bomb is not going to bring about superiority," he told a joint news conference with his Afghan and Pakistani counterparts in Islamabad, addressing the predominantly English-speaking audience through a translator.
The United States and other Western powers accuse Iran of trying to build a nuclear bomb, but Tehran insists its atomic activities are for energy needs.
Iran told world powers it is ready to resume stalled nuclear talks at the earliest opportunity as long as they respect its right to peaceful atomic energy, according to a letter seen by AFP on Thursday.
Iran's chief nuclear negotiator, Saeed Jalili, made the offer to EU chief diplomat Catherine Ashton, who represents the United States, France, Britain, Germany, China and Russia in the talks.
On Friday, Ahmadinejad said Iran's relationship with nuclear-armed Pakistan was an example of an alliance that "is not because of nuclear bomb or weapons".
"The foundation of our political relationship is humanitarian and is based on common cultural values," he said.
"Promoting peace and fraternity are the common goals of the three countries and our nations. We have got hopes to a victory in future," he said.
