Iran's President Says Enrichment 'Not A Step Toward A Bomb'

Iranian President Mahmud Ahmadinejad delivers a speech to scientists at Iran's Atomic Energy Organization during a ceremony to mark National Nuclear Day in Tehran last month.

President Mahmud Ahmadinejad says the enrichment of uranium to 20 percent is Iran's "right" and "is not a step toward a [nuclear] bomb."

Ahmadinejad told satellite television network France 24 that world powers and the UN's nuclear watchdog "should provide us with uranium at a 20 percent enrichment level, but so far they have not done so."

Ahmadinejad hinted, though, that Iran could be open to stopping 20 percent enrichment -- if the world powers offered significant concessions.

However, he added that Tehran did not expect "a miracle" out of talks in Moscow next month with the group of six world powers -- Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia, and the United States.

The UN Security Council has issued six resolutions demanding Iran suspend all uranium enrichment.

It has also imposed four sets of sanctions on Iran on the issue.

Based on reporting by AFP and Reuters