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Disarmament DocumentationBack to Disarmament Documentation 'We cannot renounce our rights for peaceful use of nuclear energy', Iran Foreign Ministry Reaction to the IAEA meeting, June 23, 2003Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman`s Weekly Meeting with Reporters, June 23, 2003. Question: What is your opinion about the results of the IAEA meeting in Vienna as well as about different expressions on acceding to the NPT additional protocol? Dr Assefi: We have already announced our position on it. I should underline once more that there was no statement rather there was a summary of discussions and remarks made by the representatives of different countries at the meeting which was summed up by the head of the board of governors. For this reason, the summary of the report includes different views, either those of Iran`s supporters or other groups. We have declared we will continue to cooperate with the IAEA and that we have no problem with continuation of cooperation in the framework of Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). But anything beyond that should be discussed so that our concerns are taken into consideration. We regard the IAEA as a specialized and professional institute which should not be influenced by political pressures and should do its tasks as a professional organization. We said we are transparent and our cooperation is clear and our activities and purposes are peaceful... Q: It has been reported that the UK will call on the EU to give Iran a 2-month time to either accede to the additional protocol or stop its cooperation with the IAEA. Is it true? Dr Assefi: The British should answer whether or not they asked such a thing. We believe, as regards the IAEA, our acts are clear and transparent. We act in line with our commitments and responsibilities as we have done so far. The IAEA should also take our concerns into consideration. Q: Russia has said as long as Iran does not accede to the additional protocol Moscow will not provide it with the fuel to be used in Busher power plant. Is it true? Dr Assefi: I think that piece of news has been misquoted. Russians do not mean 93+2 protocol. They mean an additional protocol signed between Iran and Russia under which Iran should return to Russia the spent fuel and this has nothing to do with the additional protocol of 93+2. Q: By issuing a statement, Russian president has said that Moscow is opposed to taking advantage of the issue of Iran in international political games. Have you any comment to make on it? Dr Assefi: Such remarks indicate a correct position. The issue of Iran`s peaceful use of nuclear technology should not be taken advantage for political and propaganda ends as well as for posing threats to international relations. And as regards other issues, big countries should also avoid such methods and innovations. Q: Mr Elbaradei has announced that Iran maintains good cooperation with IAEA, but he would like Iran to render more cooperation. You have also said that IAEA should consider Iran`s concerns. What is your explanation to remarks made by Mr Elbradei? Please shed more light on the issue of Iran`s concerns and that what IAEA can do for Iran? DrAssefi: Surely we have very good relation with IAEA and MrElbradei; and our friends held constructive talks at different levels with him, and they are trying to play a good role in this respect. By concern we mean that we should be requested in the framework of NPT, and we act according to what has been agreed upon. Beyond the framework of NPT the issue needs to be negotiated, and this is something that the government of the Islamic Republic of Iran cannot accept without the consent of general public of Iran. You witnessed that these days there have been numerous discussions in the Islamic Assembly in this regard, and they (deputies ) don`t accept that the Islamic Republic of Iran offers new commitments without receiving due responses regarding Iran`s concerns and the issues referred to previously by Iran, and without international community`s fulfillment of its duties vis-à-vis our country... Q: US authorities recently have talked about the option of military action against Iran; what is your stance vis-à-vis these remarks? Dr Assefi: The Americans make statements on Iran while they are mixed-up and in possession of little information about our country. Making such statements is a kind of interference in our internal affairs, which is unacceptable, a kind of literature to which not only the Islamic Republic of Iran, but also all the countries are disgustful. Regrettably enough, in the US foreign policy telling lies has been institutionalized. The world is still waiting for the US to prove its claims regarding the Iraqi weapons of mass destruction, and to apologize for having created al-Qaeda, but the US has so far failed to do so...Of course the issue of military attack on Iran is being raised by a very hardline and extremist minority in the US, and this mentality has no advocate in Europe and in the world, and not even in the US. Of course the Islamic Republic of Iran definitely stands ready to defend its interests, and the macro policies of our country are also based on these very interests. Iran Foreign Ministry Statement, June 20, 2003'Dr. Assefi: The Remarks by the Cheif Of IAEA`s Council Of Governors Should Not Be Considered As Council`s Statement Iranian foreign ministry spokesman,' June 20, 2003 Dr Hamidreza Assefi (Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman) specified: What has been announced by the chief of IAEA`s council of governers is not in fact the said council`s statement , but it is a summation by the chief of the council, of different remarks and discussions raised by representatives of different countires . Dr Assefi who was being interviewed by IRNA pointed out: This summation also contains the viewpoints of those agreeing with the stances of the Islamic Republic of Iran, and this is itself indicative of the fact that there is not a consensus among the members of IAEA toward Iran. He emphasized: The Islamic Republic of Iran sticks to its commitments and continues its cooperation with IAEA, but at the same time we cannot renounce our rights for peaceful use of nuclear energy. We expect the International Atomic Energy Agency to do its tasks as a technical and professional organization and would not be influenced by political pressures, he added. Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Islamic Republic of Iran, at http://www.mfa.gov.ir/News/Index.htm. © 2003 The Acronym Institute. |