Iran's nuclear program based on int'l regulations: envoy
IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency
Baku, Feb 4, IRNA
Iran-Baku-Ambassador
Iranian Ambassador to Baku Afshar Soleymani said here Friday that the country's peaceful nuclear program is based on international regulations.
Soleymani made the remark while talking to reporters on the 27th anniversary of the victory of the Islamic Revolution in Iran.
"Iran's nuclear program is completely transparent and for peaceful purposes," he said.
He added that inspectors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) have repeatedly visited Iran's nuclear sites and have never reported evidence to the contrary.
He criticized the West for its double-standards policy on Iran's nuclear activities, and warned that the "IAEA could be politicized unintentionally through pressure from superpowers." Soleymani said certain powers are trying to impose their own interests through the UN nuclear watchdog on Iran's nuclear program, and urged the agency to decide in accordance with its mandate and sense of duty under current circumstances.
"The IAEA should adopt measures to dismantle the nuclear arsenals of certain countries and at the same time help governments which intend to conduct nuclear programs for benign purposes."
He assessed as "unacceptable" the efforts of certain countries to block Iran from successfully pursuing a peaceful nuclear program under similar conditions other states have justified to achieve their nuclear ambitions.
"The Islamic Republic of Iran has implemented its nuclear program with total transparency and invites all interested sides to cooperate in this regard," he reminded.
"The United States and some European countries will never stand idly by looking at other states, including Islamic governments, try to access technical knowhow. At the same time, they show their hypocrisy by proudly proclaim themselves as champions of democracy and human rights while adopting double-standard policies. These policies are the cause of many of today's problems.
"These states have vehemently opposed Iran's nuclear program since a year ago and are now trying to convince the world that Iran should not be allowed to produce nuclear power. This shows their spiteful stance.
"Countries which have used nuclear and chemical weapons against civilians in various parts of the world have no right to accuse and cause trouble for other states who are simply interested in developing peaceful nuclear programs.
"Superpowers are not interested in seeing Islamic states progress because they know nuclear technology will mean development in various fields of industry, energy, agriculture and health," in these states, the ambassador pointed out.
He said that the Islamic Revolution has led to great developments in the region and proved that a nation which is united will be the master of its own fate.
"Despite pressure, sanctions and an imposed war since the outset of the Islamic Revolution, the Islamic Republic of Iran has successfully resisted efforts to block its progress by relying on the brave Iranian nation and wise policies of the Supreme Leader, and has shown tremendous progress."
Asked about the effects of the Islamic Revolution at the international level, Soleymani noted that the "Revolution was based on moral, religious and spiritual values and will always exert a moral force in the international community as a justice-based revolution."
He also praised the bilateral relations between Iran and Baku in the past year and noted that their bilateral trade volume stood at 500 million dollars.
The Iranian envoy said the two sides were seriously determined to continue implementation of their joint economic projects within the framework of their regional cooperation in the areas of
transportation and energy.
In response to a question on Iran's views on recent developments in Palestine and the overwhelming victory of Hamas in the democratic parliamentary elections held on January 25, he stressed the importance of respecting the decision of the people and their desire to run their affairs independently.
"The Islamic Republic of Iran respects the demand of the Palestinians and will never turn its back to spiritual aid for them." Asked about the possibility of a US military attack on Iran, he said such an attack is impossible and that "no regional government, even Western countries and the United Nations, will agree with it." "Iran is not Iraq. The United States should (instead) think of coming out from the quagmire it now finds itself in Iraq as well as find solutions to the problems it has caused in Afghanistan.
"Iran, as a close neighbor to Iraq, will continue its support for Iraq and will help bring stability to the country as soon as possible," the ambassador concluded.
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