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Iran rejects 'irrational' G8 statement about its nuclear program

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Tehran, June 10, IRNA -- Iran denounced Thursday the `irrational and 
unrealistic` stance of the Group of Eight most industrialized nations 
on Tehran`s nuclear capacity after the group rebuked the country for 
allegedly failing to fully disclose its nuclear program. 
Foreign Ministry spokesman Hamid Reza Asefi said, "The Islamic 
Republic has practically demonstrated its full commitment with regard 
to the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons and safeguards. 
"Iran`s broad and transparent cooperation with the (International 
Atomic Energy) Agency confirms this," he said. 
The statement issued by the Group of Eight nations said Wednesday 
that the governments of the US, UK, Germany, Japan, France, Italy, 
Canada and Russia `deplore` Iran`s alleged delays, inadequate 
disclosures and lack of cooperation with the IAEA inspectors. 
Asefi said, "These stances are irrational and contradict the 
realities. 
"So far, no deviation has been observed in Iran`s nuclear 
activities and what is being raised these days with regard to Iran`s 
activities is (aimed at) creating pressures and a climate for 
propaganda," he added. 
Tehran says its nuclear program is aimed at peaceful generation of
power, and strongly rejects Washington`s allegations that the program 
is being cloaked to build an atomic bomb. 
"Peaceful use of nuclear energy is a legitimate right of Iran and 
we will not give this up," Asefi stressed. 
"And the Group of Eight nations must not expect Iran to give up 
this right; rather they should provide Iran with the necessary means 
to make use of this technology," he said. 
The G8 statement came ahead of the agency`s 35-member board of 
governors meeting starting Monday and was said to be modelled on a 
report written by IAEA director Mohamed ElBaradei. 
Tehran has said it is confident `the ill-wishers of the Islamic 
Republic will not achieve what they want` in that meeting. 
In that report, the international nuclear watchdog had asked 
Tehran to clarify ambiguities regarding contamination of some of the 
imported nuclear parts and issues related to P2 centrifuges. 
Iran says it has `answered all ambiguities in cooperation with the
agency`. 
Tehran has suspended production of centrifuge components as of 
April 9 as a confidence-building measure with the international 
community. 
It has also voluntarily frozen its uranium enrichment activities 
since last October and signed a protocol allowing snap inspections of 
its nuclear sites by the IAEA. 
The suspension followed an agreement signed between Iran and the 
European big three -- Britain, France and Germany -- for cooperation. 
Asefi said, "Iran`s cooperation with the agency and the European 
countries has taken place in light of reciprocal commitments and 
maintaining this cooperation will be ensured if the two sides remain 
bound by those commitments." 
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