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Iran will allay international concern over nuclear program

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Vienna, Sept 21, IRNA -- Iranian vice president and head of Iran 
Atomic Energy Organization (IAEO), Gholamreza Aqazadeh said on Tuesday
that the resolution of the IAEA Board of Governors run counter to the 
context of Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), but, Iran will do its best 
to build confidence and allay international concern over national 
nuclear program. 
The IAEA set an unacceptable precedent in its September meeting 
barring Iran from uranium enrichment, the elementary step to apply 
nuclear energy for civilian purpose and the right of all nations 
enshrined in the NPT. 
Aqazadeh told a news conference in Vienna that Iran would continue
close cooperation with the international agency citing the additional 
protocol Iran signed in December which grants intrusive inspections to
the IAEA. 
Asked to elaborate on the IAEO-IAEA dispute, he said that the IAEA
raised two subjects -- the contamination and P-2. "I think we could 
settle them by November to close Iranian case," he added. 
"In the past, we welcomed negotiations with different countries 
including the European states about Iranian nuclear program. We will 
do so in future too," Aqazadeh said. 
Responding to a question about suspending uranium enrichment, 
Aqazadeh said suspension of uranium enrichment could not be dictated 
by the Board of Governors. Iran had suspended the enrichment 
voluntarily after negotiations with the European states. 
"The Board of Governors demand to halt uranium enrichment is not 
effective. We want to go ahead with cooperation with the IAEA within 
the context of the Charter of the international agency, NPT and the 
additional protocol," he said. 
"Putting pressure on a nation is contrary to the principles of the
Board of Governors and the international agency and Iranian parliament
has reacted strongly to the IAEA`s illegitimate demands. 
"However, we will not heed the unjust pressure on our nation and 
we will take decision in line with our national interest," he said. 
He said that the IAEO had no secret plan concerning the national 
nuclear program and has reported different stages of the program to 
IAEA respectively. 
"For 25 years, Iran is under Washington`s economic sanctions. We 
stood against Saddam for eight years when he was logistically backed 
by the western states. So referral of Iranian case to the UN Security 
Council does not worry Iran," he said. 
He termed Iran`s capability in the field of nuclear technology as 
`advanced` and said that several thousand technicians are currently 
working in this field. 
"Currently the Uranium Conversion Facility (UFC) is on stream for 
injecting uranium gas to the centrifuges for enrichment. Iran 
completely possesses the technology to manufacture every part of the 
centrifuges in Natanz. The plan to set up production line of heavy 
water has also been worked out," Aqazadeh said. 
He once again reiterated that the IAEO had no secret plan in the 
past decade and has reported its program to the IAEA stage-by-stage. 
Aqazadeh said that the Fuel Cycle is the fundamental part of any 
nuclear program and that import of the fuel from abroad for consuming 
in the power plants is not economical. 
Aqazadeh made it clear that Iran has not any plan to produce 
nuclear weapon and all the installations have been established for 
generating electricity. 
1416/2322/1432