Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

DATE=9/24/03

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=NY / IRAN-NUCLEAR (L-only)

NUMBER=2-307875

BYLINE=JENNY BADNER

DATELINE=UNITED NATIONS

INTERNET=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: Iranian Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi has again denied today (Wednesday) that his country his trying to develop nuclear weapons. Correspondent Jenny Badner reports from the United Nations.

TEXT: Mr. Kharrazi says developing a nuclear program is Iran's legal right. He says it is a matter of national pride. But the Iranian foreign minister contends that Iran is abiding by the nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty in its pursuit of nuclear energy, not nuclear weapons.

/ / / KHARRAZI ACT / / /

You know, it is a matter of national pride to have this capacity, to have this technology, especially when it is developed domestically, it becomes a matter of national pride. This does not mean that producing weapons would be on our agenda. The capability is the important thing.

/ / / END ACT / / /

The Iranian foreign minister accused the Bush Administration of pressuring the board of the U-N nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency to pass a strong resolution last week. The measure calls on Iran to allow the U-N agency to carry out more intrusive inspections.

But Iran's representative to the International Atomic Energy Agency has said that U-N inspectors can no longer take environmental samples and visit non-nuclear sites.

The I-A-E-A set an October 31st deadline to prove that Iran's nuclear program is peaceful.

The United States believes that Iran is hiding efforts to build a nuclear weapons program.

Mr. Kharrazi is in New York for the annual United Nations General Assembly debate. He made his remarks during a summit sponsored by the independent Eurasia Group, the United Nations Association and the United Nations Development Program.

/ / / REST OPT / / /

Mr. Kharrazi was also critical of the U-S-presence in Iraq. He said it is threatening the entire region, undermining the moderation in the Muslim world and encouraging terrorism. (SIGNED)

NEB/NYC/JB/PT