Iran to press ahead with civil nuclear development

IRNA reported today that: Rapporteur of Majlis Commission on National Security and Foreign Policy Kazem Jalali said on Wednesday that Iran is waiting for the EU proposal. "If we accept the proposal, we will proceed with talks." "EU proposal should not ignore Iranian right as stipulated by Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) to use nuclear energy for generating electricity. Otherwise, the government should resume uranium enrichment in line with Majlis approval," he said.

Majlis passed a decision last month requiring the government to resume uranium enrichment on small scale for generating electricity in Bushehr power plant.

Iran signed Additional Protocol to NPT and made it clear that Iranian nuclear program is for civilian purpose.

Iranian religious leaders including Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei have prohibited production of nuclear weapons as 'Haram' (religiously forbidden), IRNA said. "Even though Iran suffered many casualties from Iraqi chemical attacks against Iranian soldiers in the course of Iraqi-imposed war (1980-1988), Iran never considered using similar weapons against Iraq, because weapons of mass destruction (WMD) is Haram (forbidden in Islam)," the Supreme Leader said in remarks concerning nuclear program.