TEHRAN, May 13: Iran will soon put forward new proposals to resolve its dispute with the West over its nuclear programme, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said on Tuesday.But Ahmadinejad also made clear the Islamic Republic would not bow to UN demands and halt sensitive nuclear work Western powers suspect is aimed at making bombs.

Iran, the world’s fourth-largest oil producer, says its nuclear activities are a peaceful drive to generate electricity so that it can export more of its oil and gas.

“There are various concerns in the world which big powers have no solutions for ... but Iran has solutions,” Ahmadinejad told a news conference in Tehran.

“We have prepared a package which will soon be offered,” he said, without giving details.

Six world powers agreed in London on May 2 to offer a revised package of economic and other incentives to Iran to coax it to halt uranium enrichment, a process which can make fuel for power plants or material for warheads.

Tehran has repeatedly ruled out any suspension of its nuclear programme, which has prompted three rounds of UN sanctions since 2006, and says it has its own ideas on how to help defuse the row. White House spokeswoman said on Tuesday world powers were finalising the package of incentives.

“We continue to reiterate our call to Iran to suspend enrichment and come to the table .... Our incentives package ...is the one with merit,” Dana Perino told reporters in Washington.

But Ahmadinejad said no incentives offered by the West would persuade Iran to abandon its right to develop its nuclear programme.—Reuters

Opinion

Editorial

A difficult story
Updated 12 Jun, 2026

A difficult story

Unless productivity becomes the dominant target of economic policy, Pakistan will continue to oscillate between crises and fragile recovery.
Rough waters
12 Jun, 2026

Rough waters

AMONGST the key potential triggers for fresh conflict in South Asia is water. The Indian state is behaving in an...
Politicised football
12 Jun, 2026

Politicised football

ALMOST three-and-half years since Lionel Messi led Argentina to FIFA World Cup glory, the latest edition of...
GB polls’ aftermath
Updated 11 Jun, 2026

GB polls’ aftermath

The new administration must address the region’s issues proactively.
Peace in retreat
11 Jun, 2026

Peace in retreat

THE ceasefire announced in April was supposed to create space for negotiations. Instead, it has been repeatedly...
A few good men
11 Jun, 2026

A few good men

IT was a brave move, no doubt. This Tuesday, in the land of the Afghan Taliban, a few good men decided to take a...