Iran dismisses resolution on nuclear issue
Iran-UN, Politics, 8/1/2006

Following the passage of a UN resolution asking Iran for a suspension of the country’s nuclear enrichment and reprocessing activities, Chinese Deputy UN Ambassador Lio Jen Min in a UN Security Council meeting yesterday, said that negotiation and dialogue are the only solution to Iran's nuclear dossier and the talk must begin promptly.

Lio expressed sorrow that Iran did not respond positively to the EU proposal package and said if Iran declares its positive answer, there would not be any other action in the UN Security Council.

US Ambassador John Bolton says "the ball is now clearly in Iran's court."

The resolution was adopted by a vote of 14 to 1 with Qatar voting "no."  Qatar Ambassador Abdulaziz Al-Nasser said, "We do not agree with the resolution at a time when our region is in flames."

The resolution call on countries "to exercise vigilance and prevent the transfer of any items, materials, goods, and technology that could contribute to Iran's enrichment-related and reprocessing activities and ballistic missile programs."

The resolution says that in the event that Iran does not comply by the end of August, to "undertake appropriate measures," under the sanctions clause, "to persuade Iran to comply with this resolution," underlining, however, that sanctions could not be applied without another Council decision.

Visiting former German foreign minister, Joschka Fischer today said that Iran's right to access nuclear energy and technology for civilian purpose is officially recognized by Europe and West. He made the remarks while speaking at the round table meeting in Tehran called "Iran-Europe Ties."

Iran's permanent Ambassador to United Nations Mohammad Javad Zarif yesterday reaffirmed civilian nature of Iranian nuclear program and Iran's commitment to Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).

In his statement before the UN Security Council, he deplored the big powers meddling in Iranian domestic affairs and making the Security Council as a tool for their own political objectives in the United Nations member states. "This is not the first time that Iran's endeavors to stand on its own feet and make technological advances have faced the stiff resistance and concerted pressure of some powers permanently represented in the Security Council. In fact, contemporary Iran has been subject to numerous injustices and prejudicial approaches by these powers.
... "More recently, Saddam Hussein's massive invasion of the Islamic Republic of Iran on 22 September 1980 did not trouble the same permanent members of the Security Council enough to consider it a threat to international peace and security. Nor did they even find it necessary to adopt any resolution for seven long days after the aggression, hoping that their utter miscalculation that Saddam could put an end to the Islamic Republic in a week would be realized. "Sounds familiar these days, doesn't it? Nor did they deem fit to call for a withdrawal of the invading forces for two long years, until, the Iranian people single-handedly liberated their territory against all odds. Nor was this Council allowed for several long years and in spite of mounting evidence, to deal with the use of chemical weapons by the former Iraqi dictator against Iranian civilians and military personnel, because according to former DIA officials, "The Pentagon was not so horrified by Iraq's use of gas? It was just another way of killing people." "Tens of thousands of Iranians still continue to suffer and die from that carnage. And over the past several weeks, this august body has been prevented from moving to stop the massive aggression against the Palestinian and Lebanese people and the resulting terrible humanitarian crisis. Nor is it given the slightest chance of addressing the aggressor's nuclear arsenal despite its compulsive propensity to engage in aggressions and carnage. "Likewise, the Security Council has been prevented from reacting to the daily threats of resort to force against Iran, even threats of using nuclear weapons, uttered at the highest levels by the US, UK and the lawless Israeli regime in violation of Article (24) of the Charter. On the other hand, in the past few years, a few big powers have spared no efforts in turning the Security Council into a tool for attempting to prevent Iran from exercising its inalienable right to nuclear technology for peaceful purposes, recognized explicitly under the NPT."

Iran parliamentarian deputy today said adoption of the anti-Iran resolution by the UN Security Council virtually broke down the current nuclear talks between Iran and the European Union (EU). Member of Majlis Presiding Board Hamid-Reza Haji-Babaei told IRNA the Security Council resolution broke down the current process of negotiations between Iran and the EU while Iran had promised to give a reply to the EU Package on August 22.

Haji-Babaei, who is also a member of Majlis National Security and Foreign Policy Commission, said"The Security Council, which failed to strongly condemn Israeli violence and barbaric killings of civilians in Lebanon and Palestine, has focused on Iran's nuclear program under the current critical situation in the Middle East and the oppressed Lebanese people are under bombardment of the occupying regime of Israel." Asked about Majlis agenda with respect to the recent resolution, he stated, "Majlis passed two decisions urging the government to continue uranium enrichment and suspend all voluntary activities in case of referral of Iranian nuclear case to the Security Council. "The government has put into force the two decisions."

Iran's president Mahmoud Ahmadi-Nejad said yesterday that nuclear energy is clean and renewable, and all nations have the right to use it, adding "The people of Iran, in accordance with international rules and regulations have the right to make use of peaceful nuclear technology."

Ahmadi-Nejad also asserted that the government "is determined to fully exploit the rights of the Iranian nation."

Previous Stories:
  Resolution aims to weaken Iran's nuclear position   (7/29/2006)
  Iran to halt nuclear agency cooperation if against national interests: Speaker   (7/26/2006)
  Iran: No pre-condition acceptable in nuclear case   (7/24/2006)

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