Iran sets condition for nuclear program

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Tuesday that Iran would only halt its uranium enrichment program and return to negotiations if other Western nations do the same.

"Justice demands that those who want to hold talks with us shut down their nuclear fuel cycle program too," Ahmadinejad told a crowd of thousands in northern Iran one day ahead of a U.N. Security Council deadline. "Then, we can hold dialogue under a fair atmosphere."

The U.N. Security Council voted unanimously in favor of imposing limited sanctions on Iran after it ignored earlier demands to halt enrichment. Iran faces the prospect of additional sanctions unless it stops enrichment by the end of a 60-day period that ends Wednesday.

Enriched uranium is used to fuel nuclear reactors and to make nuclear weapons, and large scale use of centrifuges makes it possible to produce more enriched uranium in a shorter period.

The United States and its allies believe that Iran is using its nuclear program as a cover to produce an atomic weapon. Iran has repeatedly denied the allegations, saying its program is only for peaceful purposes including generating electricity.