Soltanieh submits Iran nuclear proposals to ElBaradei
Iran-UN, Politics, 5/21/2008

Iran's envoy to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Ali-Asghar Soltanieh today offered Iran's package of proposals to the IAEA Chief Mohamed ElBaradei.

"In the meeting latest status of the Iran-IAEA cooperation was investigated," said Soltanieh in an interview with IRNA in Vienna after a 45-minute meeting with ElBaradei.

Soltanieh said that he and ElBaradei had in the meeting exchanged information on the package, adding, "Delivery of the package had a clear message that while continuing cooperation with the IAEA, Iran has always welcomed dialogue with other countries on different issues.

He said the proposed package contains security, economic and energy related points.

"Iran, meanwhile, believes that the Agency is the sole international body authorized to deal with Iran's nuclear program and activities," said Soltanieh.

Asked about certain US media claims that Iran hurls impediment on the way of the IAEA inspection, Soltanieh said Iran has had effective cooperation with the IAEA and has always been ready to have specialized cooperation with the Agency too but the important point is that such cooperation is not due to external factors such as resolutions.

He added that there has been very effective cooperation in the field in the said period and Iran has besides facilitating regular inspections showed its willingness to cooperate in addressing technical and specialized questions, if any, free of any political controversy.

He recalled mutual commitments of both Iran and the IAEA within the NPT framework and said all Iran's cooperation with the IAEA has not been because of resolutions issued against it.

"The only result of the "political pressure" (sanctions) is its negative impact on the atmosphere of cooperation," the Iranian envoy said.

On the wider political issues, Iran's Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei said today that the enemies with reliance on their superiority in terms of science, human resources, financial power and a strong propaganda machine entered into an unbalanced war with the Islamic Republic of Iran but have received humiliating setbacks in the past 30 years, pointed out the Supreme Leader.

"Our enemies have confessed to our strength and decisive role in regional developments and in shaping the world public opinion," said Ayatollah Khamenei, adding that "We have not employed all our capabilities to this end yet."

Resistance of the Islamic Revolution to global bullying powers should be regarded as a miracle of the contemporary era, said Ayatollah Khamenei, adding that such a thing only happened during ten-year governorship of Prophet Mohammad which is not comparable to any other periods."

President Mahmoud Ahmadi-Nejad said yesterday that the big and corrupt powers are sowing seeds of discord in different parts of the world, trying to plunder wealth of nations and filling their own pockets.

Iranian Member of Majlis National Security and Foreign Policy Commission Elham Aminzadeh reiterated here Tuesday that Iran's package of proposals indicates the country's active approach to international developments. He said Iran has adopted such a stand in its foreign policy to avoid isolation.

"Since the Iranian government and nation are determined to make use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, we advise the big powers to cooperate in the country's nuclear activities from technical and legal points of view, avoid urging us to suspend our peaceful nuclear activities and recognize Iran's legitimate rights," he said. Iran's proposed package not only does not reject talks but also can pave the way for new rounds of talks, he said.

The international community has no evidence to confirm military nature of Iran's nuclear program, Director-General of the United Nations nuclear agency Mohamed ElBaradei said on Monday.

Addressing the Middle East World Economic Forum in the Egyptian Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh, the International Atomic Energy Agency chief said that the international community should trust Iran's commitment to Non-Proliferation Treaty. He also stressed the need for continued talks between Iran and critics of Iranian nuclear program.

Meanwhile, Egypt's Foreign Minister Ahmed Ali Aboul Gheith has said in his address to the forum that no one even referred to Israeli stockpiling of nuclear arms while everyone kept talking about Iran's peaceful nuclear program.

Iran's Head of Majlis National Security and Foreign Policy Commission Alaeddin Boroujerdi said yesterday that in nuclear domain, Iran does not want anything beyond NPT and the IAEA Safeguards.

Boroujerdi told Serbian Deputy Foreign Minister Radico Begovic on Tuesday, "We should move towards a world free of nuclear weapons. The big powers which produce and test new generation of nuclear bombs should be accountable to the international community."

As European negotiators prepared to offer Iran a new package of incentives to suspend its uranium enrichment program, US President George W. Bush reiterated the US offer to join Iran at international negotiations in exchange for a verifiable suspension of its nuclear program.

The Washington Post reported on May 15th that "The United States should construct a combination of incentives and pressure to engage Iran, and may have missed earlier opportunities to begin a useful dialogue with Tehran, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said yesterday."

Iranian Head of Majlis National Security and Foreign Policy Commission Ala'eddin Boroujerdi said the US government seeks face-to-face dialogue with Iran while forcing other countries to limit their ties with Iran. He made the remark in a meeting with visiting Head of Socialist Christian Party Fraction at German Bundestag (parliament) Piester der Ramsouer on Sunday.

Previous Stories:
  Iran-IAEA nuclear talks continues   (5/13/2008)
  Iran seeks apology from those who voted for sanctions   (3/31/2008)
  Iran not to back down on nuclear issue as new resolution is issued   (3/5/2008)

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