Larijani-Solana discuss new proposals on nuclear issue
Iran-European Union, Politics, 5/1/2007

Iran's ambassador to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Ali-Asghar Soltaniyeh today criticized the countries possessing nuclear weapons for violating the Nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty (NPT) Article 6.

Speaking as the head of Iranian delegation at the preliminary NPT meeting on the second day of the event, he referred to the new US strategy on development of nuclear weapons and Britain's nuclear missile called "Trident" criticizing the attempts of both states.

Turning to the failure of countries enjoying nuclear technology to comply with their cooperation commitments based on NPT Article 4, he said this has endangered the treaty.

Soltaniyeh also made seperate comments reacting to some speakers' criticism against Iran's peaceful nuclear program and asking Tehran to halt its enrichment activities at the NPT Preliminary Conference.

Soltaniyeh focused on the general atmosphere of the gathering, adding, "Some of those stands are repetitious, at any rate, and those are, as before, the stands made by the United States and echoed by Europe."

Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Mohammad-Ali Hosseini said on Sunday that in their recent talks in Ankara, Supreme National Security Council Secretary Ali Larijani and EU Foreign Policy Chief Javier Solana expressed their views on the proposed plan, which had no specific name and will be assessed within two weeks.

Hosseini said that the plan about which they exchanged views has both positive and negative points, adding that Iran welcomes any plan that will guarantee the nation's rights.

Iran's top nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani said on Sunday that he did not talk about Iran-US relations in his latest round of negotiations on the Iranian nuclear program with Solana.

Meantime, Iran's head of Majlis National Security and Foreign Policy Commission Alaeddin Boroujerdi said Saturday that Iran will strongly resist "irrational bullying of enemies of the Islamic Revolution."

"Iran's peaceful nuclear program is the most important political subject of the world. Despite political pressure of enemies, the Islamic Republic of Iran will not surrender to their illegitimate demands," he said.

He added, "Although we have expressed our readiness to hold talks, enemies have used their special methods to accuse Iran of covert activities and production of weapons."

He said the Group 5+1 (the five permanent members of the UN Security Council -- Britain, France, China, Russia and the US -- plus Germany) pretend that the world has a consensus against Iran's peaceful nuclear program. The main goal of enemies was to suspend Isfahan and Natanz projects and the entire nuclear program of the country, he said adding, "They intended to stop activities of Iran's nuclear scientists and threaten the nation.

Previous Stories:
  Europe seeks negotiation with Iran on nuclear issue   (4/23/2007)
  Common Iranian resolve on the Nuclear issue   (4/16/2007)
  Iran begins nuclear fuel production at industrial level   (4/9/2007)
  Ahmadi-Nejad speaks of nuclear program success   (4/2/2007)
  Iran - EU officials meet on nuclear issue   (9/27/2006)
  EU softens on Iranian nuclear program   (9/14/2006)

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