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Iran Seeks Compensation Over Nuke Program

Iran`s president said Tuesday that the U.S. and European nations can build trust by compensating Iran for its past suspension of nuclear research. His comments were made as the International Atomic Energy Agency holds talks in Vienna about the restarting of uranium enrichment in Iran - a move that could lead to UN Security Council sanctions.

Foreign ministry spokesman Hamid Reza Asefi says Iran is prepared to compromise, but only if it is permitted to continue small-scale nuclear enrichment. However, he says Tehran is willing to suspend full-scale nuclear enrichment for a period of time as a trust-building measure. Mr. Ahmadinejad has said that if Iran is reported to the UN Security Council, Tehran will review its nuclear policies.

On Wednesday, Iran was referred to the United Nations Security Council by the board of the International Atomic Energy Agency. Before that occurred, Iran noted that the U.S. would be subject to "harm and pain" over its role in sending Iran to the Security Council.