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Iran needs modern weapons to deter enemies, says conservative

Teheran, Oct 10 (dpa) Iran needs modern weapons to deter the country's enemies from attacking, a leading member of the conservative Islamic Society was quoted as saying today by the news service Kar.

''If our enemies consider attacking our country, just possessing progressive weapons will at least deter them and make them think twice,'' said Mohsen Yahyavi, a former MP and member of the conservative faction.

While refraining to use the term nuclear weapons, Yahyavi said in a meeting with the Islamist group Ansar Hezbollah (The Followers of the Party of God) that possession of such weapons did not necessarily mean using them.

But even according to the Koran (the holy Islamic book), moving towards obtaining weapons which our enemies possess is an obligation, said Yahyavi, referring to the nuclear arsenal of Israel.

Iran's leading officials, including President Mohammad Khatami, have several times stressed that nuclear weapons were not part of the country's programmes and would even be contrary to Iran's religious beliefs.

Yahyavi rejected an unconditional acceptance of the additional protocol of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and harshly criticised those who were in favour of unlimited nuclear inspections.

While referring especially to remarks last month by moderate Deputy Foreign Minister Mohsen Aminzadeh that Iran should have signed the protocol before the IAEA ultimatum, Yahyavi said such officials could not appropriately represent Iran in international forums.

Under the terms of an IAEA ultimatum Teheran has until October 31 to accept all IAEA regulations on nuclear inspections, and it has been warned that the issue will go to the United Nations Security Council for possible sanctions if it does not comply by November 20.

Unlike the reformist wing, the conservatives and hardliners in Iran consider giving in to the IAEA ultimatum as a political humiliation with some of them even calling for withdrawal from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

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