U.S. reiterates call for Iran to abandon nuclear program

WASHINGTON, Sept. 9 (Xinhua) -- The United States on Wednesday reiterated that Iran must implement its responsibilities by giving up its disputed nuclear program.

"I think Iran has to live up to its responsibilities and end its illicit nuclear program," White House spokesman Robert Gibbs told reporters. "That's not just the opinion of one country, that's the opinion of the world. Let's hope we see progress in them doing that."

Gibbs spoke after Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Monday invited representatives from a group of six world powers, including the United States, to Tehran for talks. Ahmadinejad said, however, that negotiations over his country's right to a nuclear program would be off the table.

Discussions on the nuclear issue were "finished," said Ahmadinejad, who sticks to Iran's right to a nuclear program. "We will never negotiate on the Iranian nation's obvious rights," he said, adding that Iran would not halt its uranium enrichment efforts.

The United States and its Western allies have accused Iran of secretly developing nuclear weapons under the disguise of developing civilian nuclear power. Iran has denied the accusation and stressed that its nuclear program is only for peaceful purposes.

The Obama administration has warned that Iran could face harsher sanctions if it does not begin talks before the end of this month, when the UN General Assembly meets and the G20 group of industrial and top developing nations hold a summit in Pittsburgh on Sept. 24-25.