Iran sees nuclear issue returning to Atomic agency
Iran-Russia, Politics, 11/27/2006

Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Mohammad-Ali Hosseini today said that Russia's approach to Iran's nuclear issue is more realistic compared to that of other members of the so- called 5+1 group.

He made the remark in an exclusive interview with the Russian News Agency Itar Tass. Turning to the favorable relations between the two countries, he said that Iran expects Russia to use its diplomatic means to return Iran's nuclear dossier to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

Hosseini dismissed resolving the issue through the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) as improper and the continuation on this track will prove to be unsuccessful. "We believe that talks between the Secretary of Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) Ali Larijani and the European Union Foreign High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy Javier Solana should continue based on early agreements to remove the ambiguities," he added.

The spokesman underlined Iran's opposition to the draft resolution on sanction against it and said that holding talks is the best way to satisfy all the parties involved in the nuclear issue. He stressed that sanctions threatened to be imposed against the country will hardly be effective.

"Iran's nuclear activities are conducted within the framework of NPT and Iran fully cooperates with the agency and Iran's nuclear facilities are being constantly inspected by IAEA inspectors," he noted.

Concerning the upcoming visit of several high-ranking Russian officials to Iran in December, including Head of Russia's Federal Atomic Energy Agency Sergei Kiriyenko and Chairman of the State Anti-Drug Committee Viktor Cherkesov, Hosseini was asked to expound on Iran-Russia ties.

Turning to mutual ties as favorable, the Foreign Ministry official said that there are many common grounds for development of cooperation in the economic sector.

Hosseini said yesterday that Russia's stance on the Iran nuclear issue has not changed.

Hosseini's remarks came as he spoke to reporters during his weekly press briefing during which he was asked what impact a recent meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and his US counterpart, George W Bush, had on Russia's stance on the nuclear issue.

He said "Russia sticks to its stance," adding that it is closest to facts on the ground.

He added that "although Russia moves in consort with the UN Security Council, its stance differs from the US.

Hosseini said on Sunday that IAEA has not asked to retake environmental samples from Lavizan and the request is about an academic center.

The Information and Press Bureau of Foreign Ministry said that the spokesman had made mistake earlier in saying that Iran authorized IAEA to inspect Lavizan, whereas, the agency requested to take environmental samples from an academic center.

"Iran has agreed with the agency's request in line with Safeguards Agreement of the agency," he told reporters in his weekly briefing.

Hosseini further assured that the Islamic Republic of Iran would continue its cooperation with the IAEA as a signatory to the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).

In response to a question on the IAEA's rejection of an Iranian request for technical assistance to its Arak nuclear reactor program, Hosseini said that "had the request been accepted the door would be opened for more IAEA inspections on Iran's nuclear sites." He acknowledged the IAEA's commitment to provide member states with technical assistance in various fields.

Notwithstanding the rejection, he said "Iran will continue its path, thanks to its domestic capabilities." "Iran's nuclear activities are legal and carried out under IAEA surveillance," Hosseini reminded.

Meantime, Iran's Secretary of Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) Ali Larijani had said on Saturday that the United States would not dare to attack Iran and such a threat is not being taken seriously by Iran.

He told Pakistani media officials in Tehran that the US is weak enough to dare go through another military adventure. He was responding to a question whether or not the US or Israeli may attack Iranian nuclear sites in an attempt to damage national nuclear program.

"Israel is not in the position to attack us either, things they say are sheer slogans," Larijani said. "We do not take such slogans seriously and if they do that (attack Iran) they will receive a decisive response." Iran's Majlis Speaker Gholam-Ali Haddad-Adelyesterday praised the outstanding stance of Iran in its nuclear standoff with the West. He said "The Islamic Republic of Iran will celebrate a nuclear victory before the end of the current Iranian year (March 20, 2007)." "Tehran's insistence on its inalienable nuclear right is a matter of justice, but certain proud countries would deprive it of its right in order to continue their brutalities and materialize selfish ends."

Previous Stories:
  Rice: Iran, Syria continue destabilizing behavior   (11/18/2006)
  Iran's nuclear transparency to be revealed through talks   (11/18/2006)
  Iranian cautions US against consequences of possible attack   (11/18/2006)
  Larijani: Russia can play effective role in process of nuclear talks   (10/3/2006)
  Iran nuclear plant operational in 2007   (9/27/2006)
  Russia should fill commitments on Bushehr power plant: Iran   (9/11/2006)

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