Ahmadinejad bars talks on Iran8217;s 8216;undeniable8217; nuke rights

8220;What we have announced is cooperation in two parts: cooperation on peaceful use of clean atomic energy and preventing a proliferation of atomic weapons.8221;

Ahmadinejad also said that Iran was ready for talks over what he called a 8220;fair and logical8221; framework,and that he was willing to hold a public meeting with US President Barack Obama,in the presence of mass media.

He suggested that this could be held at the UN General Assembly in New York later this month. Iran is due to present a set of proposals for talks with world powers which have offered talks over the Islamic republic8217;s controversial nuclear programme and threatened further sanctions if negotiations fail.

8220;Our package of proposals is in response to their request of resuming talks,8221; added Ahmadinejad,who said earlier today that Iran is ready for 8220;fair and logical8221; talks with world powers.

Western powers,particularly the United States and its Middle East ally Israel,suspect Tehran of pursuing efforts to acquire nuclear weapons. Iran insists that its programme is purely peaceful.

Ahmadinejad told European countries and the United States to 8220;climb down from fragile glass towers,8221; 8220;change their attitude8221; towards Iran and 8220;recognise nations8217; rights.8221;

8220;They will not benefit from continuing previous policies. But we are prepared for both states,8221; he said. The UN atomic watchdog,the International Atomic Energy

Agency,begins a week-long meeting in Vienna later today expected to focus on allegations that Iran conducted experiments aimed at making a nuclear bomb.