Iran terms Europe's behavior on Uranium enrichment 'illogical, selfish'

Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Hamid-Reza Asefi yesterday termed the calls by different European officials for suspension of activities at Isfahan Uranium Conversion Facility (UCF) as "illogical and selfish".

The official news agency IRNA reported Asefi saying that Iran's move has totally been within a legal framework. He said Europe suffers from misunderstanding because Iran's commitment to hold negotiations does not at all mean compromising the Iranian nation's legitimate right to use nuclear energy for peaceful purposes.

He added that resumption of activities at Isfahan's UCF is a move towards safeguarding the absolute rights of the Iranian people and that pressures and intimidation cannot force Tehran to sell off the rights of the public. Having received Iran's negative response to their illogical proposals, Europeans started launching hues and cry, said Asefi, adding that they are speaking of confidence-building at a time when they have taken no step in this regard.

He said Europe has interpreted the Paris Agreement in its own way and it should act upon its commitments instead of embarking on hue and cry. Calling recent statements of certain European officials on Iran's nuclear dossier as "undiplomatic and rude", Asefi said such statements are tantamount to intervention in Iran's internal affairs and thus are unacceptable.

The Islamic Republic of Iran has had "constructive and positive" cooperation with the IAEA and with passage of time it becomes further clear that Iran's nuclear programs and activities are of peaceful nature and free from any ambiguity or diversion from the international regulations.