Iranian
FM upbeat on Russian nuclear compromise
By
Kyoko Hasegawa
AFP
TOKYO
Petroleumworld.com
02 28 06
Iran's foreign minister sounded upbeat Tuesday about a Russian
compromise on its suspect nuclear program but insisted on his
country's right to the technology amid last-ditch diplomatic efforts
to resolve the crisis.
"We would like to enjoy the right like Japan to have nuclear
technology, of course for peaceful purposes," Manouchehr
Mottaki told reporters after a meeting in Tokyo with Japanese
Trade Minister Toshihiro Nikai.
Iran and Russia have been holding drawn-out negotiations on Moscow's
proposal to conduct sensitive uranian work outside Iran. The plan
could ease Western suspicions that Tehran wants to develop weapons
rather than electricity.
Mottaki, asked by the Japanese minister if the marathon talks
had struck a deal, sounded optimistic but declined to say if there
was an agreement.
"This proposal is a bridge between Iran's right to the peaceful
use of nuclear energy and restoring the international community's
trust in Iran," Mottaki said, as quoted by a trade ministry
official in their talks.
"Iran is currently examining the place and the period of
time" under the Russian plan, he was quoted as saying.
Mottaki, who served as ambassador to Japan from 1995 to 1999,
is on a three-day visit to Tokyo as part of a global tour.
Meeting later with Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, Mottaki proposed
that Japan, a major investor in Iran's oil sector, take part in
the nuclear program to prove its peaceful intentions.
"I requested the Japanese prime minister for the participation
of Japanese companies in our 10 to 15 nuclear plant establishments
because we have to create 20,000 megawatts of electricity through
nuclear power plants," he told reporters.
But Koizumi, whom Mottaki invited to Iran, appeared to rebuff
the call.
"We expect Iran to gain the trust of the international community
because Japan developed after its World War II defeat without
any resources. We think Iran can develop even more considering
its resources," Koizumi told him, as quoted by a government
official.
Foreign Minister Taro Aso, who met Mottaki Monday, said Japan's
patience would wear thin unless Iran backed down.
"If things carry on like this, the issue will be referred
to the UN Security Council. Japan has been getting on with Iran
for a long time. But if Iran makes an enemy of all members of
the Security Council, there would be limitations on our side,"
Aso said.
Japan has walked a tightrope in the crisis, supporting US and
European calls for Iran to give up its nuclear program while trying
not to jeopardize its close commercial ties with the Islamic regime.
The world's second-largest economy imports nearly all of its oil
needs, with 15 percent coming from Iran.
Japan in 2004 inked a two billion-dollar contract to develop Azadegan
in southwestern Iran, considered one of the world's biggest untapped
oil reserves.
Mottaki has said that Japan's position on the nuclear crisis would
not affect the massive oil investment.
"The Azadegan oil reserves are important for us and we expect
Japanese development there," Mottaki was quoted as telling
Koizumi.
"Iran would like to cooperate with Japan for the stability
of the Persian Gulf and to strengthen trade with Japan,"
he said.
AFP
02 27 06
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