• Military

• WMD Menu                           

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

Right to enrichment, nuclear energy program Iran red lines: MP

Iran Press TV

Wed Oct 9, 2013 2:51PM GMT

A senior Iranian lawmaker says the nuclear energy program and the right to enrichment are the country's red lines, stressing that no one has the right to cross or negotiate about the Islamic establishment's red lines.

"The Iranian nation's right to use peaceful nuclear energy and enrichment at a level required for nuclear industry inside the country are regarded as our red lines," spokesman for the Majlis National Security and Foreign Policy Committee Hossein Naqavi Hosseini said on Wednesday.

He added that during the scheduled talks between Iran and the five permanent members of the UN Security Council - Russia, China, France, Britain, and the US - plus Germany in Geneva on October 15-16, the Iranian nation's rights and national interests should be defended in a way that would observe the Islamic Republic's red lines.

Iran decided to enrich uranium to the 20-percent level to provide fuel for the Tehran Research Reactor, which produces medical isotopes for cancer patients, after potential suppliers failed to provide the Islamic Republic with the required uranium.

The Iranian lawmaker further pointed to American and Western pressure on Tehran over false allegations against its nuclear energy program and urged Washington to take "practical, positive and confidence-building" steps.

"The US must alter its aggressive and arrogant nature. Otherwise, the issue between the two countries [Iran and the US] will not be resolved through telephone calls, dialog and negotiations," Naqavi Hosseini stated.

He noted that the Iranian people will not forget the US sanctions and threats but will take steps wisely and on the basis of resolving diplomatic disputes through negotiation.

The lawmaker added that unfreezing the Iranian nation's assets, removing sanctions from the agenda of the US government and Congress, lifting illegal bans, changing its hostile attitude and respecting the Iranian nation are among the basic confidence building measures the Washington should take.

"If these initial confidence-building measures are not adopted, the only opportunity created for the US and West will be lost," Naqavi Hosseini pointed out.

The United States, Israel and some of their allies have repeatedly accused Iran of pursuing non-civilian objectives in its nuclear energy program, with the US and European Union using the claim as an excuse to impose illegal sanctions against Tehran.

The bans come on top of four rounds of US-instigated UN Security Council sanctions against Iran under the same pretext.

Tehran has categorically rejected the allegation, arguing that as a signatory to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and a member of the International Atomic Energy Agency, it is entitled to develop nuclear technology for peaceful purposes.

SF/HGH