Spokesman says EU has not threatened Iran over nuclear issue
Tehran, Sept 1, IRNA -- Government Spokesman Abdollah Ramezanzadeh in
his weekly press conference here on Monday said Iran has not been
threatened by the European Union on the nuclear issues.
Concerning Iran`s reply to the EU`s Foreign Policy Chief Javier
Solana on signing the additional protocol to the Nuclear
Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) by Iran, Ramezanzadeh said that Iran
has never been threatened on the issue and does not expect its EU
friends to do so.
"The world is well aware that we shall not accept any threat,
but would rather base our foreign and domestic policies on securing
our national interests and that of other nations," he noted.
Turning to the world concerns over the weapons of mass destruction
(WMD), he expressed Iran`s firm belief that the Middle East should be
free from all types of WMD and nuclear weapons.
"That`s why atomic weapons have no place in our defensive
strategies," he added.
Referring to production of nuclear weapons as a measure against
human and Islamic principles, ramezanzadeh said that a Middle East
free from WMD will also be in Iran`s interest.
Pointing to the recent visit of International Atomic Energy Agency
(IAEA) legal delegation to Iran and its meetings with a number of
Iranian high-ranking officials, he said that it was mainly aiming at
clarifying some ambiguous points on the issue.
Asked on the schedule for signing the Additional Protocol, he
said that no date has yet been specified adding that Iran is ready to
launch negotiations on how to approach the Protocol.
"The inspection delegation was mainly concerned with briefing us
on the requirements and content of the Additional Protocol to prepare
us for the upcoming negotiations," he added.
There still remain several ambiguous points to be clarified, one
being the official acknowledgement of our right to peaceful
application of atomic energy, said Ramezanzadeh.
He added that Iran is willing to find out the benefit of signing
such a protocol and whether IAEA will fulfill its commitments if Iran
accepts all the conditions set.
Stressing that Iran has no worries over inspection, he said that
IAEA inspectors have been allowed to inspect all the nuclear
installations of their request within the past two months.
http://www.irna.ir/#2003_09_0122_06_143