Iran
says not scared of UN Security Council
By Hiedeh Farmani
AFP
TEHRAN
Petroleumworld.com 01 16 06
Iran said Sunday it was "not scared" of being hauled
before the UN Security Council and vowed to press on with a disputed
nuclear programme regardless of mounting international pressure.
EU, US, Chinese and Russian officials are due to hold talks on
the crisis in London on Monday, when they are expected to set
a date for an emergency meeting of the International Atomic Energy
Agency's 35-nation board of governors.
While stopping short of talking of sanctions and insisting military
action is not on the cards, both the EU and the United States
are pushing for Iran to be referred to the Security Council over
what they fear is a covert weapons drive.
But Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Hamid Reza Asefi asserted
Iran had "not crossed any red line" in what the clerical
regime asserts is merely a bid to generate atomic energy.
"There is no legal basis to send our case to the Security
Council, but even if it goes there the Islamic republic is not
scared. Our red line is to guarantee our interests," Asefi
told reporters.
Negotiations, he insisted, "are the only way to find an acceptable
solution for all sides."
Iran this week resumed nuclear research involving small scale
enrichment to test centrifuges. It insists this is separate from
full-scale uranium enrichment, which remains frozen for the time
being.
Enrichment can produce reactor fuel but can also be extended to
make the core of an atomic weapon.
The three main EU powers -- Britain, France and Germany -- have
for more than two years been trying to convince Iran to voluntarily
limit its nuclear activities in exchange for trade and other incentives.
But Iran has consistently refused any such deal, and since Ahmadinejad's
election win has been progressively backing away from a temporary
freeze on fuel cycle work agreed on with the EU-3 in 2003 and
again in 2004.
The EU are now hoping that by calling in the Security Council,
this would back up a series of IAEA calls -- so far ignored --
for Tehran to return to a full freeze of fuel cycle work.
But Iran's parliament speaker Gholam Ali Hadad-Adel repeated Sunday
that Iran would merely retaliate by limiting IAEA nuclear inspections.
"Based on the law approved by the Majlis, if the nuclear
case is referred to the UN Security Council Iran is obliged to
halt all voluntary measures and cooperation with the agency and
this includes the additional protocol," he said.
On Saturday a defiant Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad vowed
his country would not back down, even if ordered to do so by the
UN Security Council.
"Even if the Security Council becomes involved, it will not
help resolve the issue.
We are not interested in going down this path, but if some people
insist on depriving the Iranian people of their rights they should
know that such a thing will not happen," the hardliner told
a news conference.
"Naturally, our nation will not accept anything imposed on
it. It is our definitive right to have nuclear technology."
And when asked if oil and gas-rich Iran could use its vast energy
reserves as a tool in the dispute, Ahmadinejad replied his nation
also has "leverage" of its own to defend its national
interests.
"They confront us and deal with us in a very harsh and illegal
language, but ultimately they need us more than we need them,"
Ahmadinejad said at only his second news conference since his
shock election win last June.
"The time has passed for the language of bullying, domination
and relying on your nuclear, chemical and biological weapons,"
he said, saying there was "not the slightest evidence"
Iran is seeking the bomb.
AFP
01/15/06
Copyright
© 2006 AFP. All rights reserved
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