Iran's top nuclear negotiator says foreign pressure to halt Iran's uranium enrichment is unreasonable.
Representatives of Saeed Jalili on Monday gave a letter outlining his concerns to European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana, who is representing six nations in talks with Iran. Jalili accused some of those countries of acting in bad faith, using negotiations as merely a tactic.
Solana told Reuters news agency Tuesday he did not think the message would hamper negotiations, saying it is "just a letter." Solana indicated the dual policy of incentives and sanctions would continue.
The letter also was to go to the foreign ministers of the six powers - Russia, China, the United States, France, Britain and Germany - that are trying to get Iran to stop uranium enrichment.
A U.S. State Department spokesman confirmed receipt of the letter. But he said there would be no public comment before U.S. officials discuss the letter with the other powers.
Enriched uranium is used to make nuclear weapons, but Iran says it will use it solely for peaceful purposes.
Western nations lashed out at Tehran during a meeting of the International Atomic Energy Agency last week.
But the six powers - five of them U.N. Security Council members - recently deadlocked on further action against Iran, leading to a U.N. resolution last month saying only that the world body reaffirms earlier sanctions.
Some information for this report was provided by Reuters.
