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Iran will not halt enrichment research studies: IAEO official

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Tehran, April 30, IRNA
Iran-Nuclear Program-Saeedi
Iran will never stop research and development (R&D) at laboratory level and regards it a sovereign right, deputy head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organization (IAEO) for International Affairs, Mohammad Saeedi, said on Saturday night in an interview with national television.

Saeedi was commenting a report presented on Friday by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) chief Mohamed ElBaradei to the UN Security Council and the IAEA Board of Governors on Iran's nuclear program.

"The first part of the report dealt with the progress and the second section with ElBaradei's evaluation and measures after the Security Council statement and the last meeting of the Board of Governors.

"The report also pointed to progress and Iran's six-Article letter to the IAEA and ElBaradei," Saeedi said.

He added, "In his report, ElBaradei reiterated that Iran has provided response to seven questions on plutonium and just one question has been left unanswered.

"The report said contamination of centrifuge parts in Iran had foreign origin and the IAEA should continue with its research in this regard."
"The second part of the report said all nuclear materials have been under the IAEA supervision and there has been no violation in this field.

"It added some 80 percent of questions on Iran's nuclear program have been answered after the IAEA inspectors visited Iran and Iranian cooperation with the agency."
The IAEO official said, "Reviewing Iran's nuclear case at the Board of Governors and the Security Council set limitations for the IAEA operations, the issue which was mentioned in ElBaradei's report." ElBaradei said that if Iran's case is returned to the IAEA from the Security Council and the Board of Governors, the agency will enjoy free hand to complete probing the case, he stated.

"ElBaradei's report has been organized technically and legally.

The Security Council's call for Iran's suspension of enrichment is non-binding.

"This is while the report said that there was no diversion in Iran's nuclear program."
Saeedi further added, "IAEA reports on no diversion in Iran's nuclear program discredit the idea that Iranian uranium enrichment at laboratory scale is endangering international peace.

"In September 2005, the Board of Governors for the first time paid no attention to ElBaradei's report and claimed Iran has not been committed (to its undertakings). It was politically-motivated.

"Calls for Iran's suspension of uranium enrichment should be rational but there has been no proof of diversion in the country's nuclear program."
He said, "Utilization of nuclear energy is a demand of the Iranian nation. The Islamic Republic of Iran made no decision to suspend or halt enrichment.

"Iran will implement the Additional Protocol (to the
Non-Proliferation Treaty) voluntarily if the IAEA reviews Iran's nuclear dossier."
The official said that Iran provided "good opportunity" for other countries with offering partnership with their private or public sectors on national nuclear program.

"Such a cooperation will be the strongest guarantee and verification."
Pointing to the Security Council's statement on construction of a heavy water reactor in Iranian city of Arak, Saeedi added, "The reactor is now under construction to produce radio medicines.

"Now this question is that why the Security Council stresses Iran's revision of building such facilities?"
The IAEO official said, "The IAEA is completely informed on Iran's nuclear activities."
Asked about the impacts of an upcoming meeting of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council and a meeting which will be held in New York or Washington on May 9, he said, "Participants at the two meetings should know that Iran's peaceful nuclear program is irreversible and a national demand."
The five permanent members of the UN Security Council -- France, Britain, China, Russia and the United States -- are scheduled to hold a meeting in Paris on Monday too.

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