Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

Velayati: Int'l pressure the price to be paid for nuclear fuel cycle

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Tehran, March 15, IRNA

The Supreme Leader's Advisor for International Affairs Ali Akbar Velayati said here Wednesday that putting up with international pressure was the high price the country was to pay for materializing great projects such as development of nuclear energy.

Velayati, who has served as foreign minister for 16 years, made the statement during an exclusive interview with IRNA.

Saying the price to be paid for accessing nuclear fuel cycle was predictable, he said that access to the nuclear fuel cycle was the redline of the ruling system on the nuclear issue.

"Iran will not withdraw from this redline but will rather use various political, international and economic levers to reduce the inevitable cost," he added.

He said that arguments raised in defense of Iran's nuclear right was similar to those on the Arvand river issue during the eight-year Iraqi imposed war, saying the Iranian people have never retreated in the defense of their territorial integrity and national interests.

Velayati noted that the so-called 5+1 Group was about to reach agreement on another resolution expected to impose tougher sanctions on Iran.

"However, their (new sanctions) effect will only be psychological or political," he said.

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