Former American president Jimmy Carter says Washington should begin to directly negotiate with Iran over the country's nuclear program. "We need to talk to Iran now," said president Carter in a speech at a literary festival in Hay-on-Wye in Wales on Sunday. "(We should) continue our discussions with Iran, to let Iran know the benefits, and the detrimental side of continuing with their nuclear program," said the 83-year-old Nobel Peace Prize winner.
The White House and its allies allege the Iranian nuclear program is aimed at developing a nuclear bomb. Tehran, however, maintains its drive is solely meant to acquire nuclear technology in order to produce electricity for a growing population.
The United States and its number one ally, Israel, are believed to be hoping to ratchet up pressure on Iran over the nuclear program by threatening to take military actions against the country's nuclear facilities. While stressing that the Islamic Republic has never initiated war against any country, Iran has made it clear that any aggression would be met with a maximum of force. |