IRAN: Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has said his country would not suspend uranium enrichment for "one single day" but that he was ready for "fair negotiations" over its nuclear plans.
The Iranian leader was speaking as talks between the European Union and Iran ended in Berlin with no deal but "some progress".
"We will not give in to impositions and not even suspend the enrichment process for one single day," he said. "We are more than ever decided on getting our legitimate [ nuclear] rights and do not retreat one iota from this right."
Tehran has restarted programmes to produce enriched uranium it says is intended for energy production. Western leaders are concerned it is intended for producing nuclear weapons and offered Tehran a package of incentives in June on condition that enrichment is suspended.
Mr Ahmadinejad said western insistence on suspending uranium enrichment was a propaganda effort but that Iran supported "negotiations and talks in the framework of the law".
Meanwhile, the European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana hinted that chances were fading for a quick, diplomatic resolution of the nuclear stand-off with Iran.
"We still have some issues that have not been closed," said Mr Solana after a two-day meeting with Iranian negotiator Ali Larijani at a secluded villa near Berlin. He said he would like to continue the discussions with Iranian officials next week.
Mr Larijani hinted at "some possible conclusions" to the stand-off and said he hoped talks on the incentive package would begin "as soon as possible".
The Iranian negotiator had a short meeting with the German foreign minister, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, who said he hoped Security Council action could be avoided.
"I expect we will see some movement in this conflict that will enable us to avoid escalating it by getting the Security Council involved," said Mr Steinmeier in the Bundestag, before meeting Mr Larijani.
Mr Solana spoke twice with US secretary of state Condoleezza Rice, before and during his talks. Washington has hinted in recent days that it feels the time for diplomacy is running out.
After an August 31st deadline passed for Tehran to suspend enrichment, the UN Security Council gave Mr Solana until early October to agree a deal.
Several unconfirmed reports in recent days have suggested that Iran may be considering a temporary suspension, something Tehran denies.
If Iran does not suspend uranium enrichment, it runs the risk of UN sanctions.