Iran's deputy chief nuclear negotiator says that Iran will decide whether to accept or reject the latest nuclear proposal of the United States and Russia based on its national interests.

Ali Baqeri, who is also the Supreme National Security Council deputy secretary for foreign policy and international security, made the remarks in a speech in Tehran at Imam Sadeq (AS) University on Monday.

Following is the text of the speech:

"The proposal of the Americans and the Russians is that Iran should provide them 1200 kilograms of 3.5 percent enriched uranium in exchange for 170 kilograms of 20 percent enriched uranium. Although Iran will decide based on its national interests, it has neither rejected nor accepted the offer.

"During our discussions, there has been no talk of financial incentives. We have made it clear that we will only discuss our nuclear program according to the agreed norms of the international community and our obligations.

"We are a member of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The agency has set down certain obligations and in exchange provided member states with certain rights. We have also signed the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), which also places certain obligations on members while providing certain rights.

"We have acted according to our obligations and have gone beyond our requirements, and thus we insist that our rights be fully respected.

"Their main problem is this very demand. One of Europe's leading officials told me last year: 'There are reports that your nuclear program has diverted from its peaceful course.' I told him that instead of accusations, he should provide some evidence to back up his claim. 'Provide your evidence to the agency,' I told the official.

'We don't have any technical issues with your country, we have political issues.

"We shouldn't fool ourselves. This is the reality of the issue. Our nuclear program is operating within a clear framework. We have no doubts about the nature of our program, this is why we will not give concessions on the issue.

"The reason we have been able to reach such a position on the nuclear issue and other subjects is our aggressive nuclear policy. Our choice of an aggressive policy is a strategic one. Our questioning the holocaust is also based on the same policy. We believe that if the West acts based on human rights, it should also take the rights of the Palestinian people into consideration.

"They currently face major challenges in regard to the issue.

"The result has been a change in their approach toward Iran's nuclear program. Currently, they are not talking about our enrichment activities in Natanz, they are not questioning our program at our Fordo plant. The question is whether they will provide the 19.75 percent enriched uranium for our Tehran plant, which produces biomedicines.

"With this amount of uranium, the plant in the capital will have enough fuel to operate for about ten years, while Iran will have lost one shipment of its 3.5 percent enriched uranium.

"I am only mentioning their proposal. The decision to accept or reject the offer still lies with Iran.

"In politics, when a course of action is taken, the result is not always perfect -- it is usually a mixture of gains and losses.

"In international relations, no country will undermine its own national interests for another. When interests overlap, states tend to stand by each other, but when interests clash, countries argue and disagree.

"Our nuclear issue is the same thing. We should act according to our interests in a way that we gain the maximum profit. This means that all countries do not have any permanent enemies nor do we have any permanent friends.

When asked about the Yemen issue Baqeri said:

"Iran has been engaged in a series of talks with the Yemeni government to resolve the issue. These efforts — most of which have not been publicized — have been undermined, as the issue is not just an internal problem. Other countries, based on their interests, have conducted meddlesome activities in the area by arming both sides of the conflict.

"We believe that a Muslim nation, regardless of Shia or Sunni affinities of the conflicting parties, is suffering under an unnecessary conflict. This is why President [Mahmoud Ahmadinejad] has decided to send a high level delegation to the area.

Regarding the recent nuclear talks held between Iran and the world major powers in Vienna, Baqeri said Jalili and Burns held no prescheduled meeting regarding bilateral relations. On the sidelines of the official meeting, they held short talks exactly based on Iran's proposed package.

He reiterated that Iran would never hold even such short talks with an Israeli representative in a meeting because the Islamic Republic does not recognize the regime.

"The representative of the United States is a part of the six countries and we as the Islamic Republic have also agreed to negotiate with these six states," he said.

He added that the Islamic establishment has reached a consensus on holding talks with the P5+1 countries and will continue negotiations with the six states in the future.

Baqeri said the agreement on continuation of talks was served as a "success and big achievement" for the US.

He dismissed the US claim that it has forced Iran to allow the IAEA inspectors visit its sites within two weeks.

"This issue has not been on agenda of the Geneva talks on October 1. No discussion has been raised about a two-week deadline at all. But the US needs to make such remarks for its own internal management."

He said that at first Iran had agreed to hold nuclear talks with three countries (EU3) — France, Britain and Germany — but later it decided to negotiate with six states and added, "This combination has been set up not based on our demand but in accordance with our agreement."

The Iranian nuclear official said that besides the three countries, China, Russia and the US were added to Iran's negotiation side. They were among main members of both the IAEA Board of Governors and the UN Security Council.

"They entered the process as three decision-making members."

Baqeri said the US did not involve in nuclear talks because it has set suspension of nuclear activities as a precondition for Iran, adding, "The US has said that when Iran suspends its nuclear work, we will open talks."

However, the administration of the US President Barack Obama removed the preconditions and announced that Washington would enter talks.

"During the Geneva meeting, we held no talks with the US because it is the formal stance of the Islamic establishment," he said.

He touched upon the current "interaction" between Iran and the US at different levels and said, "The US sends messages to Iran about three American citizens who were arrested in Iran and we give response to them."

MT/HGL/AKM