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TEHRAN - Iran and the United States yesterday renewed their skirmishing about when - or whether - they will meet for talks on Iraq and Tehran's nuclear programme.
Iran's president said he would talk to the United States if there was a change of attitude in Washington.
But a Bush Administration spokesman laid down a set of counter-conditions for Iran.
President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's statement came as Iran faced questions over traces of plutonium and enriched uranium discovered at a waste facility.
The United States is under internal and international pressure to deal directly with Iran to help ease violence in neighbouring Iraq.
Yesterday, it responded to Ahmadinejad by saying Iran must end its uranium enrichment programme, stop meddling in Iraq and play a constructive role in the Middle East.
"I don't think this is about a US attitude adjustment," said National Security Council spokesman Gordon Johndroe.
Washington is leading a push for United Nations sanctions on Iran because of its nuclear work, but is also conducting a review of its policies in Iraq that is expected to recommend that America engage with Iran and Syria.
Iranian officials have often said they were ready for talks with the United States, but have always demanded major US policy changes first.
"We have said from the beginning that we will talk with the American Government, but under conditions," Ahmadinejad said yesterday.
"The conditions concern the attitude of the American Government. If they correct their behaviour, we will talk to them like others."
Ahmadinejad said he would soon send a message to the American people to explain his policies.
"Many American people have asked me to talk to them and explain the opinion of the Iranian nation," he said.
In May, Ahmadinejad sent an 18-page letter to President George W. Bush criticising US policies.
Bush has maintained that no talks will be held with Iran until it abandons its nuclear plans, which Ahmadinejad yesterday gave further evidence he would not do.
"We want to produce nuclear fuel and we have to install 60,000 centrifuges, but still we are at the first stages," he said.
Iran has two chains of 164 centrifuges, which can make fuel for nuclear power plants or material for warheads.
An International Atomic Energy Agency report said Iran was pushing ahead with uranium enrichment and still stonewalling IAEA investigations.
IAEA confirmation that Iran has failed to account for enriched particles of plutonium and uranium could be deeply embarrassing for Teheran, which insists that its nuclear programme is intended solely to provide for the country's energy needs.
Suspicions have been growing that Iran has a secret military nuclear research programme since UN inspectors discovered particles of enriched uranium at a research complex at Lavizan, a military base on the outskirts of Teheran in 2003.
The Iranians agreed to let IAEA inspectors visit Lavizan, but razed it before the inspectors arrived.
The IAEA inspectors said Iran had enriched nominal amounts of uranium to the 5 per cent level required for power plant fuel, far short of the 80 per cent threshold required for atom bombs. But it is believed to be able to enrich uranium to far higher levels.
British Prime Minister Tony Blair is among those promoting US engagement with Syria and Iran over Iraq, an idea under discussion by the Iraq Study Group - commissioned by Bush to review policy in Iraq.
Nuclear timeline
2003 December - Iran signs protocol allowing snap inspections of nuclear facilities.
2004 November - Iran promises EU it will suspend nuclear fuel processing and reprocessing work.
2005 February - President Mohammad Khatami says no Iranian Government will give up nuclear technology programme.
September 3 - IAEA report confirms Iran has resumed uranium conversion at Isfahan.
2006 January 10 - Iran removes UN seals at Natanz enrichment plant and resumes nuclear fuel research.
February 5 - IAEA votes to report Iran to UN Security Council. Iran ends snap UN nuclear inspections. Ten days later Iran restarts small-scale feeding of uranium gas into centrifuges at Natanz.
March 9 - IAEA report to Security Council says it cannot verify Iran's atomic activities are peaceful.
April 12 - Iran announces it has produced low-grade enriched uranium for use in power stations; IAEA confirms this.
- REUTERS
