Iran rejects deadline in nuclear drive

US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton on Monday rejected any hard-and-fast deadline for Iran to respond.

"We've avoided using the term 'deadline' ourselves," she said and added that the administration of President Barack Obama remains open to negotiating with Iran over its nuclear program, despite intransigence from Tehran.

"We have believed that setting any deadline by either parties (involved in nuclear talks) would be meaningless and valueless," Mehman-Parast said at his weekly news briefing.

"If parties involved in nuclear negotiations reach a consensus about cooperation with Iran (on production of nuclear fuel for the research reactor in Tehran), we will welcome (their decision). Otherwise, Iran will continue its nuclear activities," said the spokesman.

He called on the West to adopt a realistic approach to Iran's nuclear energy program and said that Iran has continuously abided by the International Atomic Energy Agency's rules and regulations.

He shrugged off US threats of sanctions and said that Iran would not be affected by sanctions.

Mehman-Parast said that imposing further sanctions on Tehran will not stop it from moving towards independence.

On Monday, Clinton said the United States has already begun discussions with its partners about imposing sanctions on Iran.

"We have already begun discussions with our partners and with like-minded nations about pressure and sanctions," she added.

/Press TV/