Ahmadinejad delays nuclear talks as 'punishment'
Iranian president slams West over sanctions; says will postpone negotiations until after Ramadan
Iran said on Monday it intended to punish the West for imposing new sanctions by delaying talks on its nuclear plans and warned inspections of its ships in connection with the program could provoke retaliation.
President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad told a news conference that Iran was prepared to return to talks but only by the second half of the Muslim festival of Ramadan – in late August.
"It's a punishment to teach them a lesson to know how to have a dialogue with nations," he said.
The West suspects Iran's nuclear program is designed to produce nuclear weapons but Tehran says it is for fuel and medical use.
When asked what Iran would do if its ships were inspected, the hard-line president said: "If they make the slightest mistake we will definitely retaliate." He did not elaborate.
CIA Director Leon Panetta said on Sunday Iran probably has enough low-enriched uranium for two nuclear weapons, but that it likely would take two years to build the bombs. Panetta also said he is doubtful that recent UN penalties will put an end to Iran's nuclear ambitions.
Panetta noted the penalties could help weaken Tehran's government by creating serious economic problems, but added, "Will it deter them from their ambitions with regards to nuclear capability? Probably not."
Earlier on Monday, Iran accused the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) of conducting "psychological warfare" against the Islamic Republic. According to the Iranian Foreign Ministry, the Americans are fully aware that Iran's nuclear program is for peaceful purposes only.
