Rafsanjani blames IAEA for false reports on Iran
IRNA
Tehran, Sept 12, IRNA -- Chairman of the Expediency Council Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani here Friday criticized the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) for its false reports on Iran`s nuclear activities. Addressing the worshipers at the Tehran Friday prayers, Rafsanjani termed as `unjust, unilateral and bullying` what is going on in the meeting of the IAEA board of governors in Vienna. He further warned that the IAEA would be responsible for what it would decide on Iran. Elsewhere in his remarks, he said that due to its obligations, the United States is not allowed to develop its arsenal of nuclear weapons and to transfer it to other states but it does. Pointing to the IAEA Chief Mohamed ElBaradei`s several condemnations of the US for its nuclear activities, Rafsanjani questioned participants of the Vienna meeting for not issuing any resolution against the US in this connection. The agency should at first address those acting in contrary to their acceptance and signing of anti-nuclear documents, he said. He further referred to ElBaradei`s remarks on ambiguities over Iran`s nuclear activities and said that the agency should research and probe into the case. He reiterated that the ongoing disputes over nuclear energy symbolize the spread of law of jungle in the world that will discredit international organizations, governments and those who want to play an important role in the world. Rafsanjani said, "In Vienna, pressure is exerted against Iran to sign the additional protocol to the NPT unconditionally and immediately." He added, "This is a great insult, and a shame on big powers as well as the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), sine the acceptance of the additional protocol is not obligatory for any country in the world, and currently, too, only 32 countries have signed it." Rafsanjani said, "Furthermore, the United States that has the largest nuclear arsenal in the world has still not signed the protocol itself." He reiterated, "None of the countries that have signed the additional protocol have been urged to do so, and the process of joining it is properly stated in its prelude." The head of the Expediency Council added, "We too, must survey the matter properly, hold talks, and figure out the benefits and losses of signing the protocol, as well as their and our commitments. Then, if we found it to our interests, we would sign it." Rafsanjani then referred to the various procedures following the signing of the protocol by Iran`s representative at the IAEA and said, "if he would do so", before it becomes Iran`s obligation, the next step would be considering the case at the country`s cabinet, and the ministers` approval of it." If they would find it appropriate, Rafsanjani said, then it would be forwarded to the parliament as a bill, where the people`s representatives would either vote for or against it, and in the former case, it would be the Guardians Council that would have to put its final seal at its bottom. And if the Guardians Council would reject such a law, according to Rafsanjani, the last word on the matter would be said at the Expediency Council. Turning to the Mideast crisis, the former Iranian president accused Israel of resorting to all possible means to block the path towards peace, including creating serious problems in the way of the "roadmap`s" proper proceeding. On Israel`s plan to expel the PA Chief Yasser Arafat, Rafsanjani said, "The Israelis assume they can solve the problem by deporting one leader, but they are making a grave mistake." "Was it not Mr. Arafat who cooperated with you in Camp David, Oslo, and roadmap agreements?" asked Rafsanjani, who expressed certainty that the Zionists` conduct proves they would not come to terms on the Palestinian refugees, Beit-ul-Moqaddas, the Zionist townships, and all that is agreed upon in the framework of the roadmap. He concluded that the only way to make the occupying Zionists to come to sense would be keeping up the struggle, and boosting the Palestinian resistance, until the legitimate rights of the Palestinians are fully restored. On the situation in Iraq, Rafsanjani said that the Americans are naturally responsible for the blood of the martyrs, such as the late Ayatollah Mohammad Baqer al-Hakim. He said the Americans have occupied Iraq to secure buying cheap oil."Having invested 100 billion dollars so far, and allocating a further 78 billion," Rafsanjani said "Would never be compensated, no mater how much cheap oil they would buy form Iraq." FM/NA/214 End
|
NEWSLETTER
|
| Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list |
|
|
|
