Iranians dig in heels over nuvlear enrichment issue

Iranians today stuck by their refusal to suspend uranium enrichment as a precondition for talks on its nuclear programme despite Western insistence that Tehran commit to the step as demanded by the UN Security Council.

The government issued no statement today – the Iranian weekend – after German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier added his voice to Western statements faulting Iran for its response to an international incentives package aimed at getting Tehran to roll back on its programme.