Iran will not accept any commitment beyond NPT
IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency
Tehran, April 4, IRNA
Iran-Mottaki-Nuclear
Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said on Tuesday that Iran asks for nothing more than its legal rights under the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and within the framework of the International Atomic Energy Organization (IAEO) and will not undergo any commitment beyond it.
Speaking to the media, he underlined that enrichment, which is currently underway, and its outcome will be declared to the IAEA, the world public opinion and the endeared nation as Iran's obvious and defined right based on the country's membership in NPT.
"We are prepared to hold talks about production of nuclear fuel for industrial purposes as the next stage. Therefore, we cannot discuss yielding our rights with any country," he added.
Concerning the impact of negotiation about Iraq with the US on change of the West's approach towards Iran and whether this will leave a negative effect on the regional Islamist movements, he said that such talks only aim to focus on the Iraq issue and in line with Iran's policy of defending Iraq's territorial integrity and protecting its people and in response to the call of Iraqi leaders.
"We do not intend to reach any specific result rather than securing the interests of the Iraqi nation. Iran's representative offices in various countries, particularly in the world of Islam, have been told to brief the local officials on it to avoid any abuse of the issue.
In reply to a question about the measure taken by US courts in condemning Iran and threatening to withdraw the relevant amounts from Iran's blocked deposit accounts, Mottaki dismissed them.
Stressing that according to the international laws and regulations, the US courts cannot issue a ruling against a foreign government, he noted that the Americans believe that unilateralism is applicable to all fields, including tribunals.
For her part, Guinean Foreign Minister Fatoumate Kaba Sidibe, in response to a question about her country's approach towards Iran's peaceful nuclear activity, said that, as signatories to NPT, both states are committed to it, adding that they trust the remarks of Iranian officials about the peaceful nature of their nuclear activities and research.
"We would like to encourage our Iranian friends to continue talks on the issue and believe that the present era is very sensitive and critical, through which our Iranian partners should pass by maintaining their solidarity," concluded Sidibe.
Prior to responding to the questions raised by reporters, the two ministers, in a brief discussion, underlined the need to expand the level of mutual relations in various economic and political domains and assessed this visit as a significant step towards development and strengthening of ties.
Mottaki said that at the meetings with the visiting Guinean foreign minister, it was decided to make the joint commission active once more.
He said that Iran has been investing and involved in Guinea's auxite mines for several years, adding that during the two-day talks, ways of finalizing joint projects were discussed.
Turning to the common approach of the two states to the political and regional developments, human rights defense and Iran's nuclear dossier, Mottaki said that during its rotational presidency of the United Nations Security Council and presence in the international bodies, Guinea has always defended the rational, independent and justified approaches.
"Iran's candidacy as a member of the UN Human Rights Council will be examined in the coming months and we are assured of Guinea's positive vote to it.
"Similarly, Iran supports Guinea's approaches in activities contributing to the regional as well as international peace and security. Besides, contribution to Guinea's development has been on the agenda for the past years," added Mottaki.
Sidibe referred to her two-day visit to Tehran as a turning point in bilateral ties and hoped that implementation of mutual agreements will further raise the level of ties.
Mottaki said that the message of Guinea's president to his Iranian counterpart bearing an official invitation to the country has been accepted by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
Before the press conference, two memoranda of understanding (MoU) on mutual cooperation were signed by the foreign ministries of Iran and Guinea.
Meanwhile, another political MoU was inked by Mottaki and Sidibe.
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