Atomic agency: Iran nuclear dispute case closed

Iran is committed to its confidence-building behavior with the UN nuclear watchdog, Interior Minister and President Mahmoud Ahmadi-Nejad's special representative Mostafa Pour-Mohammadi said yesterday.

Pour-Mohammadi made the remark while speaking to reporters upon arrival in Beijing to hold talks with Chinese officials on expansion of bilateral cooperation and the latest regional and international developments.

"Iran expects China to establish its ties on the basis of the new atmosphere created following Tehran's approach toward international bodies and regarding the ongoing developments in the region," he said.

"We expect our friends not to be influenced by pressure of enemies and opponents of growing relations between Iran and other countries," the minister added.

Referring to the objectives behind his visit to China, he noted that Tehran and Beijing need serious consultations on various regional and international issues. Pour-Mohammadi added that in his talks with Chinese officials, the sides are expected to discuss Iran's peaceful nuclear program.

Iran's Ambassador to International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Ali Asghar Soltanieh said on Wednesday that Iran is determined to clarify ambiguities about P1 and P2 centrifuges.

He said in his address to the Board of Governors that Iran will provide necessary clarification in order to facilitate the conclusion of P1 and P2 and thereby it would be reported by the director-general to the Governors in November.

Soltanieh said that other remaining issues in accordance with the modalities and its time frame will be followed.

"Iran hopes that the positive environment already created will be sustained during the course of implementation of the mutual understanding with the IAEA."

He said that Iran expects certain states to support Iran's initiative and come back to the negotiating table for resolution of the issue through dialogue and technical elaboration within the framework of the UN nuclear agency.

"Any development or move outside the framework of the IAEA which can undermine the agency's authority and professional standing, the interference in its technical management or political and security meddling would seriously damage the current constructive process and even may destroy the trend.

"Iran is a responsible state and fully transparent in its nuclear program within the framework of its legal obligations, while it will never compromise on its NPT rights."

IAEA Director General Mohamed ElBaradei on Wednesday described cooperation between Iran and IAEA to resolve outstanding issues on the country's peaceful nuclear activities as a significant move.

The key to successful implementation of Modality Plan was comprehensive cooperation between Iran and IAEA, he said.

Since Iran has provided the agency with all required information and findings on plutonium, the IAEA considered the case as closed, he said.

"If Iran fully implements the Modality Plan, the reaction of the international community as well as the UNSC would be different to the issue," he said.

"We call on Iran and the international community to spare no efforts to help us resolve the issue," he said.

Iran cooperates with the agency and the European Union, he said. Iran for the first time ever has agreed to resolve the remaining issues on its peaceful nuclear program and has spared no efforts to this end, he said.

Drawing up of Modality Plan is considered as an significant move to win international trust in peaceful nature of Iran's nuclear activities, he said.

If Iran fails to meet the agreed time-table, unfortunately the case would become different, he said. "We need the support of the international community to successfully overcome the issue," he said.

"We expect Iran to fully cooperate with us and help remove all ambiguities," he said.

"I have asked Iran and the UNSC to consider time-out which means simultaneous suspension of uranium enrichment and sanctions," he said.

Iran has flatly denied such attempts to have its Uranium enrichment halted under any pretext since it asserts is being done for civilian purpose. Iranian Ambassador to International Atomic Energy Agency Ali Asghar Soltanieh on Wednesday cleared up remaining issues of Iranian nuclear program.

He said in his address to IAEA Board of Governors that Iranian initiative has led to a new opening for opportunities for examination of Iranian nuclear program by the agency.

He said that IAEA Director-General Mohamed ElBaradei's latest report on Iran is a "major step forward," adding that Iranian initiative has brought a new atmosphere for Iran-IAEA cooperation.

"Iran is hopeful for maintenance of the current friendly atmosphere created after signing of the modality plan and at the same time the political atmosphere is well-prepared for the special states to go ahead with talks with Iran."

Iran's Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki on Tuesday ruled out the time-out proposal made by IAEA Director General Mohamed ElBaradei.

He told IRNA ahead of departure for Moscow that Iranian nuclear program is not a show and that Iran has planned to produce fuel for civilian utility.

Brushing aside the US allegation about Iranian nuclear program, Mottaki said that every individual from 70-million Iranian population is stronger than an atomic bomb, adding that if the atomic bomb were effective it would have prevented collapse of the former Soviet Union. Underlining the futility of nuclear arms, he said that the US, possessing the highest number of atomic bombs has been dragged into a quagmire.

He said that the timetable set by Iran and the IAEA for clearing up the outstanding issues about Iran's nuclear program would be useful in indicating Iranian goodwill and the malignant attitude of certain countries.

Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadi-Nejad announced Wednesday that "Iran's nuclear issue is no longer a political one, and a couple of countries that do not want to yield to Islamic Iran's becoming a nuclear, would at last realize the matter.

Ahmadi-Nejad made the comment in an interview with the Iran's (IRIB) Channel One TV, adding "The members of the Non Aligned Movement (NAM), the eastern countries, and the European countries have recognized Iran's right to have access to nuclear energy for peaceful purposes."

He added, "The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has been performing its duties properly since two, or three months ago, making efforts to play a technical, rather than a political role."

Ahmadi-Nejad added "Some world powers had from the very beginning tried o impose pressure against the IAEA to politicize Iran's nuclear issue, and the Western countries had on pretext of negotiations halted Iran's entire nuclear activities."

Pointing out that the enemies of the Iranian nation imposed sanctions and pressure against us, President Ahmadi-Nejad said "The Iranian nation and our dear leader with their resistance made the entire efforts made by enemies futile, and today Iran has access to peaceful nuclear energy."

The president pointed out that Iran is entitled the right to have access to peaceful nuclear energy in accordance with the IAEA regulations, adding, "The countries that have access to nuclear energy must in accordance with the IAEA regulations, assist the ones that lack that technology and wish to have access to it."

He said that the world powers must yield to the other nation's right to benefit from nuclear power, reiterating, "We suggest the oppressive powers to make friends with the nations, and to yield to the laws, since the time for totalitarianism is over." Addressing such powers, Ahmadi-Nejad said, "Permit the international society and the world nations to live at peace as brethren side by side of one another."

Ahmadi-Nejad meantime said in an interview with British ITV network Wednesday, "Although Iranian nation is neither an aggressor, nor a colonialist, it knows well how to mightily defend its rights."

He said of some in US who would like aggression against Iran that "They intend to block the path of our nation's progress, but they are not capable of doing so. The internal developments in the United States, its military status, and the regional conditions do not permit them to do so. The Iranian nation is not an aggressor, and has never been a colonialist power, but it knows well how to defend its own right mightily."

Ahmadi-Nejad had described Iranian nuclear case as "closed."

The US Department Of State spokesman Sean McCormack had said Wednesday that the US is "Still in discussions with members of the P-5+1 about what the elements of a sanctions resolution might be. We've been having those discussions for a while. It's no secret that we would have wished these discussions had reached a point where we actually could have a resolution down at the table and have a vote, but it -- things don't always work on our timetable."

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon yesterday expressed his support for the recent agreement reached between Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

In a meeting with Iran's permanent Representative to the United Nations Mohammad Khazaei, Ban said that he would spare no efforts to help the process of Iran-IAEA bilateral cooperation be fruitful.

Outlining Iran's stance on peaceful use of nuclear energy, Khazaei said drawing of the modality (Action Plan) on resolving the outstanding issues was another indication of Iran's peaceful nuclear program as well as the country's will to remove possible ambiguities.

He added that the recent Iran-IAEA agreement was another measure adopted by Iran based on goodwill and aimed at confidence building.

It is not acceptable that Western countries oppose the IAEA reports whenever they are not in line with their interests, the ambassador said.

A former NATO General confessed Monday to US defeat regarding US pressures over Iran's nuclear program, asking for direct US-Iran talks.

US General Wesley Clark made the comment in an interview published in Monday edition of Israeli daily Haaretz, adding, "It is time for the United States to try political solutions for its problems with Iran."

He added, "Washington needs to realize the policies aimed at dissuading it from pursuing its nuclear activities have faced full defeat."