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Paper urges gov't to quit NPT if Iran's case is referred to UNSC

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Tehran, Nov 15, IRNA
Iran-Editorial-Nuclear
A morning daily Tuesday strongly urged Iranian officials to withdraw from the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) in case of referral of Tehran's nuclear case to the UN Security Council.

Criticizing the trend of Iran-EU negotiations within the past couple of months, 'Kayhan International' warned Iranian authorities to avoid falling into the same trap during their future talks with the Europeans as they did in the past.

It also criticized a recent letter submitted to the EU3 by the chief of the Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) Ali Larijani inviting them to resume talks.

Despite having positive aspects, the letter "has pitfalls, in view of the fact that it does ignore the existing circumstances and could cost the country dearly if it continues," it added.

It further argued that Larijani's letter was a shift to the Europe again for more talks despite Tehran's previous stance regarding change in its negotiating partners.

The paper further argued that Larijani's letter was "a singe of weakness" due to the fact that the European and American officials as well as some of their allies somehow "begged the Islamic Republic to resume talks with the EU3, but our senior officials said further negotiations would be useless in view of the illegal moves and broken promises emerged during post September meeting of the IAEA Board of Governors.

"In circumstances like this, it was a sign of weakness on the part of SNSC chief to jot down a letter to the European side encouraging them to sit for further talks," regretted the paper.

It also criticized Iran's Majlis (Parliament) for rejecting a bill on November 14, which urged the new government to stop implementing the additional protocol.

"If Iran is referred to the UNSC, which seems rather
inconceivable, and indeed a foolish mistake on the part of the Europeans, its membership at the the NPT would be meaningless, let alone implementing its additional protocol," argued the daily.

"The only solution which seems comprehensive, wise and legal, is for the parliament to ratify a three-starred plan to urge the government to immediately withdraw from the NPT the moment the dossier is referred to the UN Security Council, and also put an end to all other confidence-building measures."
Stressing that there would be no need for the Islamic Republic to continue its NPT membership if it is going to be forced into following the Security Council's resolution, the article added Tehran has done well to prove its that its nuclear program is only for peaceful purposes.

It regretted that each and every incentive given to the Europeans for the purpose of building confidence, only encouraged them to aggressively go further in their illegitimate demands.

Kayhan International believes that all these incentives have only built more distrust among Europeans, immediately followed by even more hostile and illegal measures taken against the country.

"The UNSC referral would annul the NPT, its safeguards, additional protocol, and all other related agreements inked between both sides over Iran's nuclear case at the IAEA," it said asking, if that is the case, then why on earth do we still insist on being a signatory to the NPT?"
Stressing that yielding to any pressure would be "sheer naivety on the part of Iran," the article said that much more is expected from the new popular government whose slogan has been and is confronting arrogance.

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