Iran Says It Will Never Give Up Nuclear Rights

Iranian chief nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili saysTehran will never give up its nuclear rights.

Jalili made the comment Tuesday in Geneva, following two days of talks with representatives of six world powers - the United States, Britain, China, France, Russia, and Germany.  The talks were aimed at finding a way to break the deadlock over Iran's controversial nuclear program.

One official described the Geneva talks as "an exchange of rather familiar views," adding Iran made no commitments to United Nations demands that it freeze uranium enrichment - which has both civilian and military uses.

The participants agreed to meet again next month in Turkey.  

European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said the January meeting would focus on a resolution of the standoff.  

Iran insists its nuclear activities, including enriching uranium, are for peaceful purposes.  But many countries fear Iran is trying to build a nuclear bomb.

Some analysts say Iran does not need to enrich uranium because it can - and is - getting it from elsewhere.

Simon Henderson of the Washington Institute for Near East Policy told VOA it does not make sense for Tehran to say it needs nuclear technology for power purposes.  He said that is one of the reasons why there is such suspicion that Iran is building a nuclear weapon.

The Geneva meeting is the first time major powers have held face-to-face discussions with Iran in more than a year.