Iran unfazed by Western pressure

Tehran says it is immune from what it says is psychological pressure exerted by Western powers ahead of a round of nuclear negotiations in Baghdad. Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast said a round of visits by Western officials in the region is an effort to put psychological pressure on Tehran ahead of the next round of nuclear negotiations. "Such issues will have no effect on the resolve and demands of the Iranian nation and their representatives [in the upcoming Baghdad talks]," he told the official Islamic Republic News Agency. U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is on a tour of Asian nations ahead of the nuclear talks scheduled for the end of May. A second round of nuclear negotiations is scheduled May 23 in Baghdad. April talks in Istanbul were viewed as positive and Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi had said he was "optimistic" about the prospects for the upcoming talks in Iraq. Some governments believe Iran is pursuing technology used in the manufacturing of a nuclear weapon. Tehran insists its intentions are peaceful and maintains it has the right to a civilian nuclear program under the terms of international treaties. "Respecting the rights of other nations must be a principle and by eliminating injustice many tensions can be defused," said the Foreign Ministry spokesman.