Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

IAEA never before weakened so much - Soltanieh

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Vienna, March 8, IRNA
Iran-IAEA-Soltanieh
IRI Ambassador to IAEA said here at a press conference UN nuclear watchdog had never before been as weakened as it is today throughout its history.

Ali-Asghar Soltanieh, who was speaking to the press after the Wednesday session of IAEA Board of Directors, added, "It is the first time that the demands of a non-expert institute is being dictated from outside to the agency."

He added, "The entire developing member countries at the agency are concerned about decision making of a non-expert institute for the IAEA about the continuation of its technical cooperation with other countries."

The IRI Ambassador said, "Some of these decisions are contradictory with the agency's previous confirmations, for which I feel sorry for both the agency and its Secretary General." Soltanieh said, "The UNSC Resolution has permitted the agency to continue its cooperation merely in medical, agricultural, and pharmaceutical fields, and for instance, cooperation in production of a type of cable used in accident prevention in construction work is not included in that definition."

He said, "Peaceful nature of many of these projects had earlier been approved by IAEA experts, but now contradictory decisions are being adopted."

He then referred to selection of some parts of ElBaradei's report on Iran's nuclear program by US and EU troika, arguing, "For instance the IAEA Chief is quoted as saying that Iran has not suspended its uranium enrichment activities."

Soltanieh emphasized, "That is right. We have not suspended enrichment, but we have good reasons for doing so, since no one has technically, or legally convinced us why we should do so."

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