Khatami, German president discuss Iran's nuclear policy
IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency
Berlin, Nov 18, IRNA
Germany-Iran-Khatami
Former Iranian president Mohammad Khatami stressed on Iran's right to have a civilian nuclear program during his talks with German leaders, including President Horst Koehler and designated Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier.
"In our meetings with some of German officials among them President Horst Koehler and incoming Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier, I stressed again on Iran's policy for a peaceful nuclear use," Khatami said in an exclusive interview with IRNA in Berlin on Friday.
"I urged German officials to continue their talks with Iran because it is in the interest of the West, Iran and all the countries in the region and the world to continue negotiations until a result can be achieved," he added.
Pointing to claims by segments of the western media about the nature of Iran's nuclear program, Khatami said, "I stressed in my talks with German officials that Iran has no plans to build nuclear arms. However we insist on our right to acquire nuclear knowledge based on the the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) Treaty." He said Iran showed "goodwill" by giving objective guarantees that its program is not geared towards producing nuclear weapons.
The ex-chief executive expressed concern that western countries would not be able to properly assess and make decisions on the Iranian nuclear issue, given the political pressure of certain powers like the United States.
Khatami is on a five-day visit to Germany following an invitation by the Hamburg-based Koerber Foundation.
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