Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

European Parliament backs EU efforts for diplomatic solution to Iran's nuclear program

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Brussels, Oct 13, IRNA
EU-IRAN
The European Parliament adopted a joint resolution on Thursday saying that the Islamic Republic of Iran ''has the right to develop a nuclear program according to Article IV of the NPT and supports the proposals of the EU for cooperation with Iran in the nuclear field for peaceful use.''
The resolution was adopted by 499 votes in favour, 43 against and 89 abstentions during the plenary session in Brussels.

The EP said it strongly supports EU's continuing efforts for a diplomatic solution to international concerns over Iran's nuclear program in the interests of a de-escalation of the situation.

It stressed the importance of cooperation with the US, Russia, China and non-aligned countries in order to consider complementary concepts (such as the South African proposal) with a view to achieving a comprehensive agreement with Iran on its nuclear facilities and their use and taking into account Iran's security concerns.

It reaffirms that no military options should be taken into consideration in order to reach a solution to the present crisis.

The resolution ''deplores the existing double-standards applied to nuclear and non-nuclear weapon states, which can only be countered by credible nuclear disarmament steps, and calls on the EU to take the lead in bringing the nuclear disarmament negotiations out of the current state of deadlock.''
It calls on the US Government to actively support the negotiations between the E3/EU and Iran by delivering security guarantees to Iran.

The EP voiced concern ''about the intention of the US Ministry of Defense to integrate the nuclear weapons option into its pre-emptive strike scenarios and calls on the US to immediately halt any such plans in the context of a revised security strategy.''
The EP held a debate on Iran during its plenary session in Brussels Wednesday afternoon.

The resolution urges Iran to use the time before the next IAEA Board of Governors meeting in November to restart talks with the EU 3 ''in good faith free of duress and devoid of threats.''
The EP says it recognizes Iran's legitimate security concerns, considering that it is surrounded by states or military bases with nuclear weapons capacities, including such states as Pakistan, Israel, India and Afghanistan.

The EP considers that a comprehensive agreement should be useful for a sustainable regional security system comprising India, Pakistan and other nuclear powers and believes that Iran should assume its responsibilities as a regional player and contribute to a Middle East free of Weapons of Mass Destruction.

The EP gave its full support to the resolution adopted on 24 September by the IAEA Board of Governors and urges Iran to re-establish full and sustained suspension of all aspects of its uranium enrichment activities including through tests or production at the Uranium Conversion Facility in Isfahan and to permit the IAEA Director General to reinstate the seals that have been removed at that facility.

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