Iran says IAEA not to refer its nuclear case to Security Council
IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency
Tehran, March 14, IRNA -- Iran on Sunday voiced confidence that the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) would not refer its nuclear dossier to the Security Council, citing its serious and transparent cooperation with the agency. Foreign Ministry spokesman Hamid-Reza Asefi said IAEA chief Mohamed ElBaradei as well as several delegates had confirmed at the last meeting of the agency to discuss Iran`s nuclear plans that the Islamic Republic is extending satisfactory cooperation on its nuclear plans. "Another reason is that we have concealed nothing and our nuclear activities are completely peaceful which we consider our natural and legitimate right," Asefi told reporters at a news conference. "Therefore, we are not worried and are sure that Iran`s nuclear case will not be forwarded to the Security Council." The IAEA on Saturday approved a resolution to defer progress in verifying Iran`s declarations about its nuclear activities until the watchdog`s next meeting in June. The 35-member Board of Governors decided to withhold response to the nature of the Islamic Republic`s nuclear activities until the receipt of a report which it asked ElBaradei to compile before the end of May. Asefi said the some parts of the IAEA resolution were not based on reality, stressing that the agency had acted unfairly by refusing to highlight Iran`s cooperation. He said the resolution had not condemned the Islamic Republic over its nuclear plans, neither had it referred to any of Iran`s breach of its nuclear obligations. In issuing the resolution, the Board of Governors noted `with satisfaction that Iran signed the Additional Protocol on December 18, 2003 and ... committed itself to acting in accordance with the provisions of the protocol`. By signing the Additional Protocol to the non-proliferation treaty (NPT), Iran accepted snap inspections of its nuclear facilities, which Tehran says are strictly intended for peaceful purposes. The board also took note of Iran`s decision on February 24 `to extend the scope of its suspension of enrichment-related and reprocessing activities`. The resolution, issued without a vote, came following intensive closed-door negotiations, amid the US-led lobby to send a `strong-worded message to Tehran`. This was opposed by some members, particularly the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) countries, which issued a statement to commend Tehran`s `increased cooperation` with the international nuclear watchdog. Asefi said efforts by the European states and NAM members to that effect were enough proof that US has been unsuccessful in achieving its goals against the Islamic Republic at the IAEA. He, however, stressed that Iran does not accept the wording of the resolution and views it as inappropriate and even `rather insulting`. Asefi said the reason Iran had postponed the visit of IAEA inspectors was because of the wording of the resolution. "We ... never allow anyone to talk to us using such literature. That when they (the inspectors) would visit Iran should be arranged. Iran should check the date and the method of the visit by the IAEA," he said. Asefi said the IAEA should have considered the realities about Iran`s nuclear energy program in the resolution, warning that Iran may otherwise revise its cooperation with the agency. "The IAEA has not considered the realities as it should. The realities should be considered. If the realities are not considered, the method of our cooperation (with the IAEA) may change," Iran`s Foreign Ministry spokesman said. "The issue of cooperation has not been questioned. We have been cooperating with the agency and are eager to continue that cooperation. This is because we are very transparent and clear in our intentions." Elsewhere in his remarks, Asefi said the European states had lived up to their commitments over Iran-IAEA nuclear debates `as much as they could`. AA/AH/210 End
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