President Mohammad Khatami on
Tuesday termed the resolution passed by the International Atomic Energy
Agency (IAEA) on Iran as "illegitimate, unjust and
politically-motivated," IRNA reported from Tehran.
Khatami made the remarks as he talked to reporters after
presenting a report to MPs on the outcome of the third year of the
the Third National Development Plan (2000-2005).
"The resolution (passed by) the Board of Governors against Iran
was an illegitimate, unjust and politically-motivated resolution and
we have protested against the issue," Khatami said as he pointed to
the upcoming visit by the IAEA chief Mohamed ElBaradei to Tehran
on Thursday.
The IAEA Board of Governors last month set an October 31 deadline
for Iran to prove it is pursuing peaceful nuclear programs.
The resolution that was submitted by Canada, Japan and Australia
also calls on Tehran to clarify its nuclear program by the end of
October and to suspend its uranium enrichment program.
"Since we are have goodwill and are not willing to create
problems, we have announced that we are ready to have all-out
cooperation with the IAEA and reach an understanding with the world
on the issue," Khatami said.
"We want to remove the concerns of other countries about
proliferation of nuclear weapons. We do not want nuclear weapons
but expect those friendly countries not to allow big powers, which
have always violated human rights and peace, to misuse the
International Atomic Energy Agency, nuclear and human rights for their
own political ends," the president noted.
He stressed Iran's natural, absolute and legitimate right to
use nuclear technology for peaceful purposes and said, "We will
take all necessary measures to remove concerns of well-wishers about
proliferation of nuclear weapons."
"We are engaged in negotiations on the Additional Protocol to
the Non-Proliferation Treaty. We will take our national interest and
security into consideration.
"If we sacrifice national interest and security for political
considerations, the nation will not forgive us. We do not have
problems regarding signing the protocol and have cooperated with the
IAEA even beyond the NPT," Khatami said.
He stressed that some important parts of the Additional Protocol
have been voluntarily implemented by Iran while "We expected such
issues to be included in the report presented to the Board of
Governors."
Pointing to the upcoming summit of the Organization of the
Islamic Conference (OIC), Khatami said that such problems as well as
those facing the Islamic world would be raised at the OIC summit and
that "We hope to defend such stands."
"We have proposals for the final resolution of the summit that
Iran's undeniable right be recognized and we hope to achieve success
in this regard," the president stated.
The Islamic Republic is already a signatory to the NPT. However,
the IAEA is refusing to provide Iran with the nuclear expertise that
under the agency's regulations it is entitled to receive, arguing that
Tehran must first sign the NPT's additional protocol that allows snap
inspections of its nuclear sites.
Iran says it needs to receive guarantees before signing the
additional protocol that the sanctions imposed by the West are
removed and that Iran will be provided by the nuclear technology to
satisfy its energy needs.
IAEA chief to arrive in Iran Thursday: Spokesman
The head of the International Atomic Energy
Agency (IAEA), Mohamed ElBaradei, is expected to arrive in Tehran
this week, it was announced in Vienna on Tuesday, IRNA reported.
ElBaradei, will begin Thursday a visit to Iran following an
invitation from the Islamic Republic of Iran, IAEA Spokesman Mark
Gwozdecky told IRNA Tuesday.
In his one-day visit, ElBaradei will be accompanied by two other
IAEA officials.
The Islamic Republic is already a signatory to the NPT. However,
the IAEA is refusing to provide Iran with the nuclear expertise that
under the agency's regulations it is entitled to receive, arguing that
Tehran must first sign the NPT's additional protocol that allows snap
inspections of its nuclear sites.
The IAEA Board of Governors last month set an October 31 deadline
for Iran to prove it is pursuing peaceful nuclear programs.
The resolution that was submitted by Canada, Japan and Australia
also calls on Tehran to clarify its nuclear program by the end of
October and to suspend its uranium enrichment program.
Meanwhile, former President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani said on
October 3 that Iran's conditions for signing the additional protocol
to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty may be the same as those of
the US.
Rafsanjani intimated in his sermon at Tehran Friday prayers that
Iran's signing of the protocol must not jeopardize its security,
values and sanctities, and that it must not lead to investigation of
issues that are not related to the nuclear energy.
... Payvand News - 10/14/03 ... --
