VP: Iran determined to safeguard its nuclear right
IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency
Algiers, Jan 24, IRNA
Iran-Tunisia-Moussavi
Visiting Iranian Vice President for legal and parliamentary affairs Ahmad Moussavi, in a meeting with the Speaker of Tunisia's House of Representatives Fuad Mbazaa in the Tunisian capital of Tunis on Tuesday said that Iran is firmly determined to safeguard its right to use nuclear energy within the framework of international laws.
At the meeting, Moussavi submitted an official invitation from Majlis Speaker Gholam-Ali Haddad-Adel to Mbazaa to attend an international conference scheduled to be held in Tehran in early spring in support of the Palestinian people.
He also briefed the Tunisian official on Iran's nuclear stance and its approach to the latest international developments.
He stressed that Iran voluntarily suspended its peaceful nuclear program including research two years ago for the sake of transparency and confidence building.
"Now that it has been verified by more than 1,400 inspectors that no violation of international laws has been witnessed at Iran's nuclear installations, some Western countries still insist on depriving the country of its right.
"They keep on accusing Iran on baseless pretexts. However, we are determined to defend our inalienable right to research on peaceful nuclear activities according to Article 4 of NPT," he concluded.
For his part, Mbazaa criticized the dual and discriminatory approach of world powers to Iran's nuclear issue on the international scene and declared Tunisia's support for its peaceful nuclear program.
"The countries possessing nuclear warheads, which themselves have not signed the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and are not committed to international laws, intend to deprive Iran of access to nuclear energy for peaceful purposes.
"The world is suffering from the dual nuclear policy of the West and big powers," he added.
He declared the support of Tunisian House of Representatives for Iran's peaceful nuclear program within the framework of international and agency laws.
Meanwhile, Moussavi referred to Iran's fundamental approach towards the Palestine issue and said that Iranian nation and government have always been defending the rights of the Palestinian people and will continue to do so.
He called for multifaceted support of Islamic states and the world freedom seekers for the resistance and the ideals of the Palestinian nation.
"While Palestinian Muslims are not actually supported by any international body, they have continued to stand disarmed against Israel and have managed to gain victory.
"However, they need the support of all Islamic countries and world Muslims. It is the religious obligation of all Muslims to support them," he added.
The Tunisian official appreciated and accepted Iran's invitation to attend the upcoming conference in support of the Palestinian people.
Mbazaa said that his country has been supporting the justified and legal campaign of Palestinian nation for over a half century.
He criticized the policies of West and world powers on the Palestinian issue as well as the silence of the international community against the killings of Palestinian Muslim people.
"We are witness to the pressure exerted by the world powers upon some countries with hegemonic aims," he noted.
He reiterated the need to strengthen bilateral ties and exchange of views among Islamic states at international assemblies.
Moussavi said that the West considers Iran and Tunisia as violators of human rights, while themselves do not even comply with the most basic human and citizens rights in such cases as granting citizenship to ordinary applicants.
"Despite claiming to support human rights, once their own privileges are in question, they will trample over them," he added.
Both sides urged the need for more extensive parliamentary cooperation between the two countries at the international level, in particular within the framework of parliamentary friendship groups.
They also called for implementation of the mutually signed scientific, cultural, economic and political agreements.
After the meeting, Moussavi briefed reporters on Iran's fundamental nuclear status and the policy of Ahmadinejad's government in further broadening ties with Islamic countries such as Tunisia.
The conference is scheduled to be held in Tehran in early spring and will be attended by the speakers of the parliaments of Islamic states.
Before visiting Tunisia, Moussavi had visited Algeria, Libya and Egypt and had meeting and talks with the officials of these countries.
For their part, Libyan, Algerian and Egyptian officials stressed their support for Iran's right to access peaceful nuclear technology.
Meanwhile, reviewing the latest position of bilateral ties, Moussavi briefed the relevant officials on the latest developments on Iran's nuclear dossier.
Moussavi is accompanied on the tour by MP from Hamedan, Ebrahim Karkhaneh and head of the Foreign Ministry Department for Middle East and North African Affairs Rajabi.
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