• Military

• WMD Menu                           

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

Asefi says Iran's referral to UNSC illegal

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Tehran, Jan 15, IRNA
Iran-Asefi-Nuclear
Foreign Ministry Spokesman Hamid-Reza Asefi said here Sunday that referral of Iran's nuclear dossier to the UN Security Council has no legal justification.

Asefi made the remark while addressing domestic and foreign reporters at his weekly press conference.

"The Islamic Republic of Iran has predicted necessary strategies and has no concerns in this regard.

"We should not see issues in black and white. Talks with Russia, China, Europe, the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) should be continued and judgment and evaluation should be then made," he said.

Asefi added, "We do not regard as necessary holding an emergency session of the IAEA but Iran will defend its right, if such a session takes place.

"Iran believes the two sides can find a solution through negotiations.

"The Islamic Republic of Iran feels no fear if its nuclear dossier is sent to the Security Council. Our red line is based on serving national interests."
Asefi said the there is no consensus among European officials on resumption of nuclear research in Iran, adding, "Negotiation is the only solution that will satisfy both sides. Iran will obtain its rights and the Europe's concerns will be removed."
He said nuclear research differs from talks, saying, "The main topic of negotiations is enrichment.

It is not fair that some individuals naively ignore Iran's legitimate rights, he said.

Government's policy is based on following up negotiations, he said adding that it would be to the benefit of the Europeans to follow this logic.

In response to a question whether the agreements reached between Iran and Europeans are still valid, he said what was officially agreed upon in the past is still valid between the two parties.

"Both the Islamic Republic of Iran and Europe believe that the negotiations should be continued and we have to wait and witness the progress of negotiations in the following days," he said.

On adoption a much closer stands between China and US over Iran's nuclear dossier, he said "we are not of such a belief because the Chinese underline the legitimate right of the Islamic Republic of Iran for peaceful application of nuclear technology."
On recent negotiations between Chinese and American officials, he said the Americans have declared that they should persuade China to pursue Washington's policies and this indicates that the China's stand is different from that of US and Europeans.

On Russian's proposal, he said the case is still immature and incomplete.

2327-1430/1412