Election: Ahmadinejad reviews 'policy of compromise'

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad defends nuclear polices of his government. In a fresh attack on previous governments, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad slams their nuclear policies and the voluntary suspension of uranium enrichment. "I have to disclose the performance of the three previous governments in political, cultural, social and foreign policy terms for the sake of national interests and rights of the Iranian nation," said Ahmadinejad in an address to teachers in Tehran on Sunday. He added that the revelation would be made in "televised debates", in which presidential candidates are scheduled to face each other in live program. The remarks come as three hopeful challenging the incumbent president in the June 12 elections have accused his government of adopting a hostile foreign policy which, they say, has backfired against the interest of the Iranian nation. Ahmadinejad, however, defended his nuclear policies during the past four years and said, "Certain individuals inside the country put the government under pressure to surrender to the enemy and suspend uranium enrichment activities." "Officials inside the country imposed heavier pressure on the government rather than foreigners," he added. Ahmadinejad also criticized the suspension of uranium enrichment under former President Mohammad Khatami and "the policy of compromise". President Khatami agreed in 2003 to suspend work on uranium enrichment while continuing negotiations with the West over the disputed program. The suspension was a goodwill trust-building measure by the Iranian government in return for economic and political incentives by the West. The program, however, was restarted in 2005 when President Ahmadinejad took office. "We currently possess more than 7,000 centrifuges and are carrying out enrichment activities," Ahmadinejad said. Iran has been under three rounds of sanctions resolutions by the UN Security Council since 2006, over the continuation of its uranium enrichment program, which the West alleges is aimed at developing nuclear weaponry. Uranium -- the fuel for nuclear power plants -- can serve military purposes only when enriched to high levels of above 90 percent. The UN nuclear watchdog, meanwhile, says Iran enriches uranium-235 to a level of "less than 5 percent". The fiery remarks by President Ahmadinejad on Sunday came after the Center for Strategic Research, led by former chief nuclear negotiator from 2003 to 2005 Hassan Rowhani, accused him of diverting public opinion and falsifying nuclear realities ahead of the crucial presidential elections. In a statement, the center said that Ahmadinejad seeks to introduce himself as the "national hero of the nuclear technology" to secure his victory in the election. "It should be stressed that the real hero of Iran's nuclear industry is unknown scientists who made great efforts over the past 25 years," the influential center said. The center had previously cautioned the Ahmadinejad administration over distorting facts on the state's nuclear program, warning that it could shed light on the president's 'incompetence'. SF/MD