Iran stresses its 'positive attitude' to additional protocol
Tehran, Aug 4, IRNA -- Iran on Monday reiterated its stance that it
looked positively at at an additional protocol to the nuclear
Non-Proliferation Treaty, while saying it would consider national
interests to decide whether to sign it.
"We will decide according to national interests on whether to join
the additional protocol or not," Government spokesman Abdollah
Ramezanzadeh told reporters here.
"This will be examined in the government and the final decision
in this regard will be made by Supreme National Security Council after
Supreme Leader (Ayatollah Ali Khamenei)'s approval," he added.
The official reiterated Iran's demand on the International Atomic
Energy Agency (IAEA) to assure the signing would ease up restrictions,
including ban on the sale of nuclear energy know-how, to the Islamic
Republic.
"We have repeatedly announced that we must be given assurances
with regard to the Additional Protocol and that the commitments cited
in NPT must be fulfilled by the International Atomic Energy Agency and
the countries which own the (nuclear) technology," he added.
Tehran, which is a signatory of NPT, complains that it is being
subjected to unjust sanctions which prevent the country from acquiring
nuclear know-how.
Ramezanzadeh, however, brushed aside certain calls for pullout
from NPT. "Our attitude to negotiations (with IAEA inspectors) is
still positive and the issue of quitting NPT has not been discussed
yet," he said.
Iranian lawyers here Monday began talks with a legal team from
the international atomic energy watchdog on 'ambiguities' about the
Additional Protocol, a senior official said.
The spokesman for Iran's Atomic Energy Organization, Saber
Zaeemian, however said nothing is certain as yet about the results of
the legal team's talks with the three-member delegation from the
International Atomic Energy Agency, who arrived earlier in the day.
The official also said he was unaware about the contents of the
talks.
The team is in Tehran to discuss technical details of the
Additional Protocol to NPT, including existing 'ambiguities' which
Iran says must be removed before the country decides on signing it.
Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi said last week Iran would decide
on joining the protocol after hearing explanations given by the IAEA
team about Tehran's concerns.
Zaeemian said another team of IAEA inspectors will travel to Iran
soon to take up talks between the two sides from where they were left
off.
"The inspectors will take steps on how to continue cooperation
(with Iran) and complete an IAEA report for presentation to a
September meeting of Board of Governors," he added.
Thirty-five members of the board are due to make a decision on
Iran's nuclear energy activities after hearing IAEA chief Mohamed
ElBaradei's report.
The board called on the Islamic Republic in its June 9 meeting to
sign the Additional Protocol to NPT which could allow UN inspectors to
visit Iran's nuclear facilities without prior notice.
BH/214
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