BRASILIA, Brazil — The world must engage, not isolate Iran in the push for Middle East peace and Iranian leaders should negotiate with Western nations for a “just and balanced” solution to concerns over its nuclear program, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said Monday.
Silva’s comments followed a three-hour private meeting with his increasingly alienated Iranian counterpart, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad — the first Iranian leader to visit Brazil since pro-U.S. Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi toured the South American country in 1965.
But Ahmadinejad made no promises and defiantly said Iran would try to improve its uranium-enrichment technology if it can’t buy enriched uranium abroad.
“If the people ask us to produce ourselves, we should do it and the opportunity we tried to create for the other side will be lost,” said Ahmadinejad, who has repeatedly denied allegations by the United States and its European allies that Iran is embarking on a nuclear weapons program. Iran insists the program is only for peaceful purposes.
Commenting on the fate of three American hikers detained in his country, Ahmadinejad said it is up to Iran’s judicial system to determine whether they will be released or punished, though he hopes any punishment would not be severe.
