Iran says talks with U.S. should be under "equal conditions"

A general view shows the Bushehr nuclear power plant in southern Iran, Aug. 20, 2010. (Xinhua/Ahmad Halabisaz)

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast said Sunday Iran will enter talks with the United States only under "equal and respectful conditions," local English language satellite Press TV reported.

Mehmanparast said that the United States urges for restoring relations with Iran but it needs to prove that it will never keep hostilities with Iranians.

"If the U.S. seriously seeks to revive relations with Iran, it should make changes in its attitude. Washington should prove that it will never repeat previous mistakes and will not pursue hostile policies towards the Iranian nation," Mehmanparast was quoted as saying.

"The U.S. officials should accept that rights of nations must be respected," he said.

Referring to the U.S. unilateral sanctions on Iran and the threats that U.S. officials have directed toward the Islamic Republic, he said that "such conduct will not work toward a country like Iran."

"Under such circumstances, the talk of negotiating with Iran will be completely meaningless and reflect a contradiction in U.S. policies," said Mehmanparast.

Following UN Security Council's sanctions against Tehran over its sensitive nuclear program, U.S. President Barack Obama in July signed a new Iran sanction bill into law, which is described by him as "striking at the heart" of Iranian government's nuclear ability.

In August, the U.S. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mike Mullen said that the United States has a plan in place to attack Iran, if it is necessary.

Iranian officials have rejected the possibility of a U.S. attack on the country over its controversial nuclear program and called the claims as a psychological war.

Source: Xinhua