Foreign Ministry spokesman, Hamid-Reza Assefi, here Sunday dismissed the claim on possible substitution of the Secretary of Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) Ali Larijani.

Addressing domestic and foreign reporters in his weekly briefing, he defended Larijani's capabilities in administering Iran's nuclear issue and said that he has done his best to make full use of his capacities and available facilities.

The Foreign Ministry spokesman stressed that his substitution is out of question.

Turning to the country's nuclear program as a national issue, he said that everyone should attempt to contribute to directing the the nuclear issue to the right path in line with national interests.

About the proposal of the 5+1 group on the issue, he said that it includes the views of the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council plus Germany as well as China and Russia.

In response to a question whether the report saying that another nuclear facility with 164 centrifuges is being constructed in Natanz is correct, he said, "A number of centrifuges are added daily to the nuclear fuel cycle. Thus the situation improves day by day." Asefi pointed to the activities of Iranian experts in the sector and said that everything is working properly.

In reply to a question about the Iranian foreign minister's reference to the diplomacy of exchange of visits and whether Iran will suspend the enrichment during the period of talks, he said, "We will not disregard our rights and responsibilities and will certainly act based on our duties and rights. Iran is in position to come up with its own initiatives."

Asked about the insistence of Iranian officials that they should not agree to suspend the enrichment process even for one second and whether his remark that "Iran is in a position to come up with its own initiatives" indicates the change of position by Iranian officials, Asefi said that Iran will not at all give up its rights, which are non-negotiable.

"Thus Iran is still in a position to come up with its own initiatives," said the spokesman.