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Following are excerpts from a speech by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, which aired on the Iranian News Channel IRINN on November 7, 2007.
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad: We have started operating a cascade with 164 [centrifuges]. [The West] made a bit of fuss, but they saw that it had no effect. Therefore, they said to us: "Stop at 164 [centrifuges], and don't progress any further. If you make any more progress, we will take significant measures [against you]." When you weren't paying attention, we made further progress, and today, we have reached 3,000 units. At first, they used to say to us: "Shut down the 3,000 centrifuges, suspend their activities. In other words, close them down and don't enrich [uranium] anymore." Well, the people did not accept this. [The West] then said: "If you stop even for just a short while, we will accept it." The people did not agree to this. Then they said: "Just for one week." We responded: "Impossible." They said: "Just one day." We answered: "Impossible." So they said: "Just pretend you are suspending [the enrichment]." We said: "Impossible."
[...]
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad: Now they have reached the point where they are saying: "Fine, make do with the 3,000 you already have." Some of them say that. I am referring to the big one [America], the one who seems big...
Crowd: Death to America! Death to America! Death to America!
Ahmadinejad: The [Americans] sent us a message: "If you stop at this point, we will be willing to come and negotiate with you." As your representative, I said to those who brought the message: "We didn't even ask to negotiate with that gentleman (Bush), who is setting terms for us." If any negotiations are supposed to take place, it is the Iranian people that is supposed to set the terms for those bullies and criminals. Who are they to lay down terms for us? What do the other countries say? When I say "others", I am referring to two or three countries. They say: "We accept the 3,000..." The expressions I am using are theirs. They say: "We'll put up with these 3,000 centrifuges, but from now on, you need to reach an agreement with us on their speed, on how many will operate daily, and how many will operate each week." What is our response? We say: Who are you to even have an opinion regarding the Iranian people? We are a member of the IAEA. We operate under IAEA supervision and according to its regulations, like all the other [members].
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