• E-mail
• Print
• Comment
• Font Size
• Digg
• del.icio.us
• Discuss article

Head of Iran's Atomic Energy Agency Explains Nuclear Position

Posted on: Wednesday, 10 August 2005, 06:00 CDT

The head of Iran's atomic energy agency, Gholamreza Aqazadeh, said on 9 August that no seals have yet been broken at the Esfahan uranium conversion facility. In an interview broadcast on Iranian TV, he also described the EU proposal as "humiliating" and said Iran must be prepared to "pay the price" to protect its sovereignty and independence.

The one-hour interview centred on Iran's rejection of the EU3 proposal which offered it certain incentives in an attempt to dissuade Tehran from resuming activities at the Esfahan Uranium Conversion Facilities (UCF).

Aqazadeh started by explaining the difference between conversion and the enrichment process. In great detail, he described what the uranium conversion and enrichment processes entail. He said Iran had always cooperated with the IAEA, especially in relation to Esfahan UCF.

He said: "We told them that we had no objection to them placing more surveillance equipment at our facilities. The only thing we asked them was when they planned to break the seals. They said they were prepared to open the seals on Wednesday (10 August), meaning tomorrow."

Aqazadeh pointed out that the IAEA inspectors arrived on Sunday and headed for Esfahan immediately, where they installed cameras at the plant. He then gave a technical explanation about the four production units at Esfahan UCF, saying that inspectors installed cameras on two new sites.

He said: "Immediately after they installed their cameras and were satisfied that the necessary monitoring equipment was in place, we started the first phase of UCF - as we had previously informed the IAEA in our letter. There were no seals in the first phase. No seals have been removed in Esfahan as yet. "

Aqazadeh added that the inspectors installed four more cameras, making it possible for all the seals to be removed tomorrow under the supervision of IAEA inspectors. He pointed out that in his statement, the IAEA Director-General Muhammad al-Baradi'i had confirmed that Iran had informed the agency of its intention to resume operation at UCF.

Aqazadeh then turned his attention to the EU3 proposal, dissecting it at length, in an attempt to show that it was a "political manoeuvre" by the West aimed at weakening Iran. He insisted that the Foreign Ministry should publish the full text of the proposal - making it available to the general public - so all Iranians would know how "humiliating" it would be if Iran were to accept it in its current form.

Criticizing the Europeans, he said: "I believe that Blair, Chirac and Schroeder had not read this document before handing it to us. Their people had drafted it and simply told their bosses that the document was a good one. And then a prime minister proclaimed that the proposal contained a generous offer. I cannot believe that French generosity is so small and insignificant. I cannot believe they actually consider this a generous offer. I believe this proposal, in the first place, violates the NPT. There are many instances where it violates the NPT, the UN charter and international laws. We can prove it point for point."

Aqazadeh insisted that the proposal only served the interest of the West which had "selfishly" drafted the document. He said the Europeans were being "unreasonable". He said some of the articles of the proposals "questioned the sovereignty of certain countries. In my view these were attempts to interfere in the affairs of a country irrespective of what country put forward such a proposal. I really believe if we were to explain these points to the non-aligned member nations and others, they would realize that the same thing may happen to them if they try to acquire peaceful nuclear technology and build a nuclear power plant. If this scenario is successfully played out for us then it will serve as a model for them. Some of their requests fall outside of the Additional Protocol. Some of their demands go beyond the IAEA's authority."

Aqazadeh insisted that Iran had always cooperated with the IAEA and will continue to do so in the future. He said that the West would not be able to shake the resolve of the Iranian nation as long as the public knew the truth about the European proposal. He said that talks with Europeans will not yield any result unless Iran's interest was considered at every step of the negotiations.

Reiterating Iran's right to acquire peaceful nuclear technology, Aqazadeh said: "I believe we must do two things. Firstly we must inform the public. It is essential that we have public support. In order to protect its sovereignty and independence, the nation must be prepared to pay the price. In the second place, we must increase our capabilities. UCF is a reality today. They cannot eliminate it. [Interviewer interjects: It has also become indigenous]. This is a reality. The heavy water project is a reality. [Interviewer interjects again: They have also asked us to halt our heavy water production]. Yes. they have demanded that we should totally stop that project. They have not left anything for us in the nuclear field. It is a joke. We have to look at it as a joke. Such capabilities do exist now. They cannot even claim that we appropriated the heavy water plan from another source. The license belongs to Iran. It is the product of our knowledge. Our indigenous knowledge is involved in the reactor we are currently working on. Bombs cannot destroy this. They can hit the facilities but the designers and builders exist. If they decide to bomb the facilities that are above ground, then they'll be moved under ground. This is not a solution, and they know it. The knowledge exists in the minds of thousands of experts. They cannot be eliminated. The West knows this fact. I believe what the world will eventually have to accept - I mean Europeans and Westerners - is that Iran will not forfeit this. [Interviewer interjects once more: And it has entered a phase that cannot be turned back. They have to accept a nuclear Iran]. They must accept an Iran with nuclear technology."

Aqazadeh said the success of the talks was very important to the Europeans; if they broke down, this would spell a major failure for them. He questioned whether Europe had the strength and capability to be involved in such an important issue.

He said: "This process showed that the Europeans lack the necessary capacity. Contrary to the facade they project - giving the impression that they occupy a major place - their proposal and methods clearly showed that they don't have the capability to handle major jobs. I believe that we must find a new way in future regarding our international cooperation. We might have to view these discussions from a new perspective. Because we really would like to dispel the international concern about us. This is our serious policy."

Turning his attention to the meeting of the IAEA's Board of Governors on 10 August, Aqazadeh said he was sceptical about the outcome. He said: "I think it will be hard for the Europeans to achieve something significant in this meeting, because they have to announce that Iran has broken some rules. Well that is not the case, because we have not broken any rules or agreement. The head of the agency issued a statement saying that the suspension was voluntary and with the full knowledge of the IAEA, adding that Iran had resumed activity under IAEA monitoring. They cannot say that we violated the NPT or the protocol. The agency has officially confirmed that. They have to claim that we violated the agreement. This is a bilateral agreement with Europe. So according to that logic, whenever talks among two parties reach a deadlock, then the matter should be referred to the UN? They have to convince the IAEA board of the basis on which they wish to issue a resolution against Iran. It is correct that America and the Europeans hold a majority and they may be able to level some accusations against us, but their claim will lack a legal basis. They have to convince world public opinion."

Aqazadeh said the West was using the media to wage some of its war of words against Iran. He said the Europeans were making a mistake in threatening to refer the case to the UN, and that they would eventually would have to sit down at the table and continue talks.

Source: BBC Monitoring Middle East

More News in this Category