Government not considering plan to opt out of NPT
IRNA
Tehran, Sept 8, IRNA -- Government spokesman Abdollah Ramezanzadeh said on Monday that the government is not considering any plan to opt out of non-proliferation treaty (NPT). Asked about the ambiguity in the Additional Protocol to the NPT, Ramezanzadeh said that the ambiguity deals with the procedural methods, and its impact on the national nuclear program and the obligations coming from the protocol. "If we reach the point that the protocol serves our national interest, we will sign it, otherwise we will reject it," he said. He dismissed speculations that Iran has proposed to undertake security of the two Iraqi holy cities of Najaf and Karbala and said that such a topic has not been discussed in the government. He blamed one of the morning dailies for misquoting him by saying that Iran would send peacekeeping force to Iraq. "I had been asked whether Iran would send peacekeeping force to Iraq? I responded that we do not consider such a topic as long as Iraq is under occupation," he said. He appealed to the press to exercise maximum care while quoting officials. Asked about Saudi Prince Bandar`s request to Iran to extradite Saad bin Laden to Saudi Arabia to face charges of conspiracy against Saudi royal family, he said that he heard nothing about the request. "We have a security agreement with Saudi Arabia and such a request would be considered in the context of the bilateral pact," he said. "We expect all friendly countries to do likewise," he added. There is no such person among those arrested, he declared. Ramezanzadeh said Iran would not release the list of those under arrest for security reasons. "We consider ourselves responsible for the international campaign against terrorism and expect other states to hand over the terrorists working against our national interest. Then, we will consider extradition of terrorists," the government spokesman said. 215/AH/210 End
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