Iran: Russian proposal dead
Iran, Politics, 3/13/2006

Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Hamid Reza Asefi said on Sunday that Iran is not concerned about the meeting of the Security Council and that it only defends its legitimate rights.

He told reporters on the sidelines of an international conference dubbed 'Energy and Security: Asian Vision', at the Institute for Political and International Studies (IPIS) on March 12-13, that Board of Governors of International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has made apolitical decision by reporting Iran to the Security Council which is regrettable.

Asked about what Iran would do in connection with possible debate in the Security Council on Iranian nuclear program, he said that it depends on what the European states and members of the Security Council would do in their debate and Iran would react appropriately.

Responding to a question whether Iran is worried about any escalation of crisis over its nuclear program, he said that Iran believes that it is moving in line with its legitimate right.

"Iran's preference is to defend its national rights enshrined in Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT)," Asefi said.

"Iran is a powerful state and can defend its national interests. Iran is independent and is not following the US lead," he said.

On possibility of extending moratorium on uranium enrichment, he said that it would be possible if it comes out of negotiations with IAEA and the other states so that Iran is well-prepared to extend moratorium on uranium enrichment, if an agreement was reached with respective states to that effect.

"Let's wait and see what will happen in the next few days. If the Security Council wanted to exert pressure on Iran, Iran would not continue with the voluntary actions it has taken so far." "Iran is interested in extending moratorium on uranium enrichment if it comes out of negotiations. If the US and European states wanted to exert pressure on Iran, Iran would be forced to take unilateral action," Asefi said.

As relating to oil supply as a result of the politics of this issue, some in the West speculated on Iran cutting off oil supply, while some see that Iran may be able to achieve the same political effect by minor cuts in oil exports, which may lead to oil price rise that may in compensate Iran in money for any such cuts. Iran's Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said yesterday "Iran is resolved to play an effective and reliable role in supplying energy to Asian states and not to use oil to advance its foreign policy."

The issue of oil, gas and energy is seen to play an important role, as it relates to the nuclear issue and its politics. Mottaki said the Iranian government's diplomacy with respect to energy transfer pipeline to different regions is based on such an outlook. "This indicates Iran's strong resolve to participate and cooperate in the development of Asian and world countries," he said.

Following up on Iran's previous warning that if this discussion is transferred to the UN Security Council, the Russian proposal would be dead and not subject to any further consideration, Foreign Ministry Spokesman Hamid-Reza Asefi said that the Russian nuclear proposal for Iran is not on the agenda any more.

Asefi added "The situation has changed. We should wait and see how developments will go on among different states including the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council," he said.

"Undoubtedly, Iran will not renounce its rights," Asefi emphatically said.

At present, he said, the possibility of studying and ratifying the Additional Protocol to the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) does not exist in the Majlis.

The recent decision by the Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency on Iran's nuclear case has been politically motivated and void of any legal basis, he said.

"From the view point of the Islamic Republic of Iran the decision is unacceptable," the spokesman said.

Iran had indicate that it will seek to stay and benefit from the nuclear nonproliferation treaty, as a preferable option, however, Iran has indicated that it would give the nuclear nonproliferation treaty the same regard as the treaty gives to respecting Iran's specified rights.

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