Iran has told world powers including the United States talks on its nuclear programme must wait until after the Islamic Republic's presidential election on June 12th, president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said today.
The United States, Russia, China, France, Germany and Britain said in April they would invite Iran to a meeting to try to find a diplomatic solution to the nuclear dispute.
Breaking with past US policy of shunning direct talks with Iran, president Barack Obama's administration said it would join nuclear discussions with Tehran from now on.
Iran says it is ready for "constructive" talks but has rejected demands to halt sensitive uranium enrichment which the west suspects is aimed at making bombs. Tehran says its nuclear programme is intended only to generate electricity.
Mr Ahmadinejad, who says Iran will never bow to outside pressure on the nuclear issue, faces a challenge in the election from moderates seeking better ties with the West.
"We said we will have no talks before the election. They were insisting to hold negotiations before the election," Mr Ahmadinejad told a news conference for Iranian media broadcast live and translated by Iran's English-language Press TV.
"They called several times ... and Mr Obama finally accepted and said 'Ok, let's do it after the election'," he said.
Mr Ahmadinejad said last month Iran had prepared its own proposals to end the stalemate.
Reuters