• Military

• WMD Menu                           

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

Iran terms IAEA talks successful, says to continue cooperation

IRNA

Tehran, Oct 5, IRNA -- Foreign Ministry spokesman Hamid-Reza Asefi 
said here on Sunday that Iran`s talks with the envoys of the 
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) have recorded a successful 
progress, stressing that the talks are continuing in a "very 
appropriate atmosphere". 
Asefi told reporters at his weekly press briefing that Iran has no
problem for cooperating with IAEA, stressing however that Tehran needs
to be assured that its national security and dignity are not 
threatened. 
"The issues relating to Iran-IAEA debates are technical, and they 
should run their due natural course," he said. 
"If the spirit governing the talks is to remove the ambiguities, 
we have no problem [for continuing the talks] and will cooperate just 
like before." 
The Islamic Republic is already a signatory to the nuclear 
Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). 
However, the IAEA is refusing to provide Iran with the nuclear 
expertise that under the agency`s regulations it is entitled to 
receive, arguing that Tehran must first sign the NPT protocol that 
allows snap inspections of its nuclear sites. 
Iran says it needs to receive guarantees before signing the 
additional protocol that the sanctions imposed by the West are 
removed and that Iran will be provided by the nuclear technology to 
satisfy its energy needs. 
The IAEA Board of Governors last month set an October 31 deadline 
for Iran to prove it is pursuing peaceful nuclear programs. 
The resolution that was submitted by Canada, Japan and Australia 
also calls on Tehran to clarify its nuclear program by the end of 
October and to suspend its uranium enrichment program. 
Meanwhile, former president Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani said on 
Friday that Iran`s conditions for signing the additional protocol to 
the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) may be the same as those of
the US. 
Rafsanjani intimated in his sermon at Tehran Friday prayers that 
Iran`s signing of the protocol must not jeopardize its security, 
values and sanctities, and that it must not lead to investigation of 
issues that are not related to the nuclear energy. 
Elsewhere in his remarks, Asefi rejected reports on the formation 
of a five-member special committee to follow up Iran`s position toward
the NPT protocol, stressing that Iran`s state institutions act within 
the frameworks of their duties. 
Commenting on the remarks by Iran`s representative to the IAEA 
Ali-Akbar Salehi that Iran and IAEA had reached a complete agreement 
on the process of their cooperation, Asefi said the Foreign Ministry 
is not informed about the details of that development. 
"Using the nuclear technology is our right and will enable us to 
make major breakthroughs in various scientific and industrial areas. 
And other countries, as well as the IAEA, must recognize our right," 
he said. 
The Foreign Ministry spokesman further rejected to comment on 
reports over an IAEA request to inspect a company called `Kala-ye 
Electric`, stressing that these issues are technical. 
AA/210 
End