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Iran will never renounce its legal right to nuclear energy: VP

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Tehran, Feb 1, IRNA
Iran-VP-Nuclear
The Iranian nation and government will never relinquish their legal right to obtain peaceful nuclear technology, the vice-president for legal and parliamentary affairs said here Wednesday.

Ahmad Moussavi made the remark at a meeting with ambassadors of six Islamic states of North Africa.

"Peaceful use of nuclear energy within the framework of rules and regulations of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is a right of all countries including Iran," he declared.

"Global arrogance and the West do not wish to see Third World countries, particularly Islamic states, progress in the field of nuclear technology.

"They intend to make us continually dependent on them. They treat Islamic states any way they wish.

"This is irrational and a way of bullying. Islam does not countenance bullying by or against us," he added.

He praised the support of friendly countries, particularly the Islamic states of North Africa, for Iran in the current row on its nuclear programs, and said consolidation of solidarity and unity among Islamic states would be one way of strengthening power.

The vice-president also called for unity among Islamic states to confront the hegemonic policies of foreign powers.

Noting the importance of North African countries such as Egypt, Tunisia, Morocco, Libya, Sudan and Algiers in affairs of the Islamic world, he said, "We should make the best use of our situation in the Islamic world and the Middle East region to serve the interests of Islamic nations."
"Islamic states enjoy a special position in Iranian foreign policy. Based on this reality, we ought to exchange views and consult with each other on many issues," Moussavi went on to say.

Expressing delight over the similarity of stances between Iran and the Islamic states of North Africa on several regional and international issues, he noted that during a recent visit to North Africa the two sides called for further promotion of relations and cooperation to promote their common interests in the economic, political and cultural fields.

The Tunisian ambassador, on behalf of the ambassadors of Egypt, Libya, Morocco, Sudan and Algeria, congratulated Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei and the Iranian nation and government on the 27th anniversary of the Islamic Revolution.

He called for further boosting of ties with Iran, and said North African states regard progress and development of Iran in all areas as their honor.

He said the scientific and economic progress of Iran redounds to the benefit of Islamic and developing countries and of all Islamic nations.

The Tunisian ambassador praised Iran's firm stand on the nuclear issue and said the country's resistance against the unreasonable demands of the West and global arrogance was admirable.

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