Asefi: Iran favors collaboration, dialogue
IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency
Vienna, March 31, IRNA
Iran-Nuclear-Asefi
Since when debates on Iran's nuclear program began rising only two options, either collaboration and dialogue or dispute, were on the table and Iran has always been stressing on the first choice, said an Iranian Foreign Ministry official in Switzerland on Friday.
Hamid Reza Asefi, Foreign Ministry Spokesman who is accompanying Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki in his Swiss visit, said, "Negotiations should always be given a chance."
"Our stance on the issue is clear, believing that the move will undermine the International Atomic Energy Agency and the UN Security Council," said Asefi when asked to comment on reporting Iran's nuclear dossier to the UN Security Council.
The legally non-binding statement of the UN Security Council has also taken the Agency's role into consideration and the issue has fallen within duties of the institution, he added.
Asefi went on noting, "We believe the Agency's capacity can be applied and we are ready to take moves to remove ambiguities, if any." Elsewhere in the interview, Asefi referred to prolongation of the process for investigation of Iran's nuclear report at the UN Security Council and said, "The move shows that contrary to the US claims there had been no consensus on the issue."
Calling the move "politically motivated" and a "non-expert" one, Asefi said, referral of Iran's case to the UN Security Council merely because of Research and Development was "ridiculous" since no country can be deprived of science.
Mottaki and his accompanying delegation arrived in Switzerland on Thursday to address the UN Conference on Disarmament and give a speech at Geneva Security Policy Institute.
During his stay, Mottaki had a non-official meeting with Swiss Foreign Minister.
The Iranian Foreign Minister wrapped up his visit to Switzerland Friday afternoon.
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