• Military

• WMD Menu                           

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

• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

Asefi rejects Bush`s anti-Iran remarks, says Iran not after nukes

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Tehran, Feb 13, IRNA -- Foreign Ministry spokesman Hamid-Reza Asefi 
here on Thursday rejected recent charges by US President George W. 
Bush against Iran, and refreshed pledges that nukes have no place in 
Iran`s defense doctrine. 
Asefi said the US president speaks in a way as if the United 
States should decide for the rest of the world and the international 
community, stressing that this is never acceptable to the Islamic 
Republic. 
He said the Islamic Republic has always supported the 
non-proliferation regime of weapons of mass destruction and has always
played a major role in strengthening that regime. 
Asefi added that Iran, which had been the victim of Baghdad`s 
chemical weapons during the 1980-88 Iraqi-imposed war, is determined 
more than before to push forward international efforts to eliminate 
weapons of mass destruction. 
"Based on religious reasons, previous battle experience and 
strategic considerations, Iran believes that the production of nuclear
weapons can never promote its security," he said. 
"These weapons have no place in Iran`s defense doctrine." 
Asefi criticized the US for helping Israel develop weapons of mass
destruction, and called on the White House to declare its policy 
regarding Israel`s efforts to proliferate those weapons. 
Iran, he stressed, has always underscored the need to make the 
Middle East a region free from weapons of mass destruction, 
particularly nuclear weapons. 
Asefi recalled US animosity against Iran over the past 25 years, 
and said this animosity, particularly US efforts to halt progress of 
Bushehr nuclear power plant, has made the Islamic Republic expand its 
capabilities in the area of nuclear technology so as to attain 
self-sufficiency in the area of energy. 
"The technology to enrich uranium is a peaceful example of using 
nuclear technology for generating energy and all members of the 
Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) will have to cooperate with each other 
on that," he said. 
Asefi described Iran`s ability to develop the technology to 
recycle nuclear fuel as a great success. 
He also recalled Iran`s signing of an NPT additional protocol, 
stressing that Tehran is voluntarily implementing the protocol. 
Asefi said Iran has accepted the comprehensive and accurate 
supervision of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on its 
nuclear activities. 
He added that Iran is playing its due part within the frameworks 
of an international cooperation in the market of supplying fuel for 
nuclear reactors. 
AA/214 
End