Israel and others join efforts to encircle Iran
Israel's Acting Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said Tuesday that Israel could not reconcile itself to the threat of a nuclear Iran saying "Under no circumstances, and at no point, can Israel allow anyone with these kinds of malicious designs against us, to have control of weapons of destruction that can threaten our existence," a report on Haaretz.com said.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov today said that sanction against Iran is not the best and the sole solution to the current nuclear crisis, and that solution to the concerns of others shouold be dealt with within the framework of the International Atomic Energy Agency saying "We believe that the agency should deal the issue professionally and that the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty should be safeguarded by all means," he concluded.
"Iran's nuclear policy welcomes negotiations with different sides, including Europe, toward finding a solution that would fairly uphold the Iranian nation's rights." Iranian Ambassador to Thailand Mohsen Pakaeen made the remark in Bangkok today while addressing a press conference, IRNA reported.
Asked about Iran's reasons for resuming nuclear research, he said, "Iran's resumption of nuclear research is not illegal since the country has the right to pursue nuclear technology as a signatory to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT)."
He further said that it is the view of Iranian nuclear engineers and experts that postponement of nuclear projects and research would be detrimental to the country. Thus, it has decided to resume research on nuclear technology for peaceful purposes and this differs from nuclear fuel production," he added.
Responding to a question from Thailand's Independent Television (ITV) on Iran's future nuclear plans, he said, "We will continue our active cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) within the framework of existing regulations and at the same time welcome any negotiations to achieve the legitimate goals of our nation."
He criticized the West for trying to monopolize the domain of nuclear power by restricting the right of other countries to access nuclear technology for peaceful ends.
Pakaeen said that the West's insistence that Iran give up its legal right while keeping its eyes closed to the nuclear arsenals of others was another example of its discriminatory policies.
Besides, he said, "it also turns a blind eye to other signatories to the NPT who do not fulfill their commitments."
The ambassador then pointed to the over 200 nuclear warheads in Israel's nuclear arsenal, and asked, "Why does the West not pressure Israel to sign the NPT and allow the IAEA to apply its nuclear safeguards on all its nuclear facilities?"
Asked what he thought would be Europe's strategy for Iran, he said, "The wisest thing European states can do would be to make a distinction between nuclear research and nuclear fuel production and not to bully Iran to follow their will.
"We are ready to continue talks and remove ambiguities if the three European states (Germany, France and Britain) still are not convinced of the peaceful nature of Iran's nuclear activities," he went on to say.
Meantime, Haaretz reported that Israeli officials headed to Russia to convince the Russians to support those trying to encircle Iran to impose their restrictions on Iran's civil nuclear development.