Iran on Europe's nuclear offer as they meet tomorrow
Iran-European Union, Politics, 5/23/2006

Iran's Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki today expressed hope Europe's latest proposal to try to resolve the standoff on Iran's nuclear program would be comprehensive and protect the interests of both sides.

Mottaki said "We hope the offer will preserve the rights of the Islamic Republic of Iran as well as remove the concerns of other states. We are seriously calling for a diplomatic solution to our nuclear case through negotiation and within the framework of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) with the objective of removing concerns as well as observing the rights of Iran," he said.

Asked why Europe has not formally presented the proposal to Iran when it has already been seen and talked about by international media people, the minister said "We diplomats strive to be optimistic when dealing with issues. With this outlook, we hope the European side will try to present a balanced offer."

He reiterated that the "Islamic Republic of Iran will never renounce its nuclear rights under whatever circumstances." But he said Iran has not received a formal offer from Europe. If we receive Europe's formal offer, we will discuss it and announce the results to the nation."

The French Foreign Ministry spokesman said yesterday that in the meeting of the UN Security Council permanent members plus Germany, the issue of extending security guarantees for Tehran will on the agenda of the talks.

Jean Baptiste Mattei told reporters that the European trio of France, Britain and Germany are in consultations aiming to finalize the proposals which also include security guarantees. "We are also in contact over the issue with US, Russia and China," he added.

US officials yesterday acknowledged that what US Department Of State Under Secretary Nick Burns is going to be doing in London "is talking with all of his colleagues about that package."

Iran's Foreign Ministry Spokesman Hamid-Reza Asefi yesterday said "The US intends to dictate its unilateral and wrong approaches to the world community and pressurize it." He recommended the US administration to stop disregarding the the NPT regulations and warned it against interfering in Iran-IAEA cooperation trend, instead of considering itself as the ruler of the international community.

"In accordance with the international laws, Iran is entitled to access nuclear energy for peaceful purposes and will not give up such a right," concluded Asefi.

Initially the meeting of the permanent members of UN Security Council was slated to be held on May 19 in London which according to European officials was postponed to May 24 because the proposals were not completed.

Iranian government spokesman Gholam-Hossein Elham said yesterday that Iran's right to access nuclear fuel technology or carry out nuclear-related research is nonnegotiable.

Elham said Iran backed efforts to defend peace and to rid the world of weapons of mass destruction. "Tehran is ready for any cooperation or negotiation leading to global nuclear disarmament," stressed the spokesman.

Referring to the upcoming meeting of the 5+1 Group in London on Wednesday, the official urged participants (representatives from the UN five permanent members and Germany) in the meeting to "take into consideration Iran's legitimate rights in the nuclear field" when making decisions on the nuclear issue.

Stressing that each and every Iranian was pressing for the right to acquire civilian nuclear energy, he said this was "not a matter the government can surrender."

"Based on the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) even the right to enrich uranium is non-negotiable," Elham said, reiterating that Iran's nuclear program was for peaceful purposes and Tehran supports the idea of making the world free from nuclear weapons. However, added the spokesman, "Iran believes that access to peaceful nuclear technology is an indisputable and irreversible right of the nation."

Writing in the , Iran's Ambassador said yesterday in the Swiss daily Der Bund that inspections carried out by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on Iran's nuclear facilities over the past three years had not produced any evidence pointing to any illegal nuclear activity on the part of Iran. Nonetheless, it pointed out, certain countries insist on their demand that Iran halt its nuclear activities, including research and development, in the nuclear field.

He said There are hidden motives behind their demand adding "The opposition of certain countries to Iran's right to pursue nuclear energy in accordance with the NPT and under IAEA supervision proves these states are against Iran's access to technology for development. Their desire is to monopolize nuclear technology." He said Iran will not renounce its right to produce nuclear energy, including uranium enrichment, for peaceful purposes inside its territory while remaining committed to its commitments under the NPT."

Previous Stories:
  US military and financial pressure on Iran   (5/22/2006)
  On the European nuclear offer to Iran   (5/20/2006)
  Ahmadi-Nejad: Nothing can stop Iran from nuclear right   (5/17/2006)
  Europeans to offer Iran advanced nuclear technology as incentive   (5/16/2006)

Please add a link on your webiste pointing to ArabicNews.com and bookmark ArabicNews.com & subscribe to our daily email news bulletin.

Search