Iran says won't discuss right to make atomic fuel

energy

EHRAN (Reuters) - Iran said on Sunday it would not discuss its "obvious right" to master the nuclear fuel cycle but was open to talks that could reassure the West that its atomic plans were not aimed at producing bombs.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Mohammad Ali Hosseini also told a weekly news conference the Islamic Republic's military was "totally prepared to defend the country and Iran is totally prepared for any possible military strike."

The United States, which believes Iran is trying to build an atomic bomb, has said it wants a diplomatic solution to end the row over Tehran's nuclear ambitions but has not ruled out military action if that route fails.