Iran dismisses IAEA demand to suspend uranium enrichment
IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency
Tehran, Sept 19, IRNA -- Iran Sunday dismissed the world nuclear watchdog`s demand to freeze uranium enrichment, saying the country does no accept any obligation in this regard. Hassan Rowhani, who is Tehran`s marksman on nuclear issues, however stressed that the Islamic Republic is still open to negotiations to sort out the tangle. "Any resolution which seek to bind us to suspension (of uranium enrichment) is unacceptable and we will not accept such an obligation," said Rowhani, who is secretary of the Supreme National Security Council. The official stressed that Iran`s suspension of uranium enrichment had been voluntary, aimed to show the country`s good faith and any headway in this regard would come only through negotiations. "The Islamic Republic has never accepted the suspension under a resolution, thus the country cannot be obliged on that and Iran can only be asked through negotiations to (continue) the suspension," he said here during a news conference. "The suspension is not obligatory and is totally voluntary and the Islamic Republic of Iran has not undertaken any commitment for this suspension," Rowhani added. "The aim of the suspension which was announced last year ... was to build trust, but the situation today is different from last year since there is no ambiguity regarding our peaceful nuclear activities now," he added. The International Atomic Energy Agency`s Board of Governors adopted a resolution Saturday demanding Iran freeze all activities related to uranium enrichment. According to IAEA spokeswoman Melissa Fleming, the resolution was passed without a vote, by consensus. The resolution was drafted by Britain, France and Germany Friday, setting a November 25 deadline for a full review of Iran`s nuclear program and calling on Tehran to `immediately` suspend all uranium enrichment activities. Rowhani chided the Europeans for failing to honor their `political and moral commitment` they took during a meeting in Tehran last year, saying Iran `will register this in their record book as a case of the three countries` inability to live up to their promises`. The non-aligned nations had challenged the draft resolution for taking Iran to task for uranium enrichment, which is allowed under the nuclear non-proliferation treaty (NPT). On Friday, the Europeans opposed Washington`s demand to set an October 31 ultimatum for Tehran to fully suspend uranium enrichment and consequently for automatic referral of Iran to the UN Security Council for possible sanctions. Rowhani said, "America, despite making all efforts to have Iran`s nuclear file referred to the UN Security Council, did not achieve any of its goals." Iran`s chief delegate to the IAEA meeting repudiated Saturday the draft resolution proposed by Britain, France and Germany about Tehran`s nuclear program, saying it smacks more of politics. Hossein Mousavian stated that the resolution has ignored IAEA chief Mohamed ElBaradei`s report about Tehran`s `cooperation and good will`. "Iran considers (the resolution) as totally political and the Europeans` behavior as illogical," he told IRNA on the sidelines of the IAEA board of governors` meeting held in Vienna. Mousavian, however, welcomed the resolution for `barring the Americans from referring Iran`s file to the UN Security Council` for possible sanctions. In a decision to prove its good faith, Tehran has voluntarily suspended uranium enrichment and manufacture of centrifuge components. Moreover, the Islamic Republic has signed an additional protocol to the NPT, allowing snap inspections of its nuclear activities. Iran says its nuclear program is aimed at power generation, rejecting US accusations that the program is a cover to build an atomic bomb. Rowhani said, "Iran`s transparent cooperation with the agency in inspecting the country`s nuclear facilities indicates its will to build confidence and Tehran is not worried of snap inspections at all." 2323/1432
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