Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad announced Monday that his country has rejected a United Nations plan that would see Iran halt its uranium enrichment program. In exchange, the UN Security Council would drop plans to slap Iran with tighter sanctions.
In addition, Ahmadinejad said that Iran would not discuss its nuclear program with world powers. “Our nuclear talks from now on will be only with the relevant organizations, such as the International Atomic Energy Agency,” he said.
"Any negotiations with world powers from now on will be only about global management,” he added.
On Saturday night, Ahmadinejad announced that Iran would refuse to discuss its nuclear program until after its presidential elections on June 12. Ahmadinejad is running against reformist challenger Mir-Hossein Mousavi.
Report: Venezuela Aids Iran's Refusal
One factor in Iran's refusal to cooperate with the UN or Western powers is Venezuela, which has assisted Iran in circumventing sanctions and obtaining uranium, according to Ynet. The report was based on leaked Foreign Ministry documents.
Iran began creating ties in South and Central America in the 1980s, the documents stated. In addition, the report warned, Iran was involved in terrorist attacks against Argentinean Jews in the 1990s, and has supported Lebanon-based terrorist group Hizbullah in creating cells in Venezuela.
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has assisted Ahmadinejad in defying Western powers and in forging ties to other South American countries, among them Bolivia and Nicaragua, ministry officials believe. Officials suspect that Chavez has issued permits allowing Iranian citizens to travel freely in South America.
Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman has emphasized the importance of reaching out to South America and attempting to weaken Iranian influence in the area. The ministry recently announced the reopening of an Israeli consulate in Brazil, which has strong economic ties to Iran.