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Iran's Chief Nuclear Negotiator Expresses "Disappointment" With EU

Posted on: Saturday, 8 October 2005, 18:00 CDT

Text of report by Iranian newspaper Hemayat on 1 October

The secretary of the Supreme National Security Council has explained that America's problem with Iran is not over nuclear energy but that it is against the system of the Islamic Republic of Iran. He added: "If we accept the prohibition on attaining nuclear energy we would have to shoulder other pressures as well." He made the speech on the second day of the fifth conference of the Qom Seminary Lecturers' Association and clerics nationwide, which was held at Qods conference hall of the Imam Khomeyni School.

In his talk he explained that for the last 18 years attaining nuclear energy had been the greatest achievement of the country's workforce. He added: "The average age of those who work on this technology is 30 years and all of them are from the generation of the revolution and the children of Imam Khomeyni (God's benedictions upon him)." He added: "We gained these victories during the holy defence [Iran-Iraq war], too. When they had placed an embargo on us and did not provide us with any information we were obliged to produce new technology ourselves. Larijani referred to the fact that nuclear energy was a great element to elevate the power of the country and emphasized: "Based on this fact the Americans are sensitive about Iran attaining nuclear energy."

He criticized some of the members in the previous Majlis who used to say that we have oil and gas, so what is the need for nuclear technology and said: "The need for fuel and energy, the country's development and its dependence on nuclear technology in other fields requires that we attain this energy." The secretary of the Supreme National Security Council said that America claims Iran carries out some actions secretly and added: "Up to now Iran has not violated any of the laws of the IAEA and it can be said that it is the IAEA which has failed to accurately execute the laws." He referred to the fact that the member countries of the IAEA have the right to benefit from nuclear energy for peaceful purposes and added: "But America and the Europeans want to create a monopoly in technology which is one of the most important methods of controlling the world under the theory of globalization."

Larijani referred to the other reasons the Western powers object to Iran achieving nuclear energy and said: "If Iran attains this technology, the power balance will change in the region because Iran is different from the other countries and benefits from an outstanding position." He explained that in the Vienna negotiations America and the Europeans said that they did not want us to have a nuclear fuel cycle and added: "We are a member of the IAEA. We respect the NPT and it is our right to benefit from the nuclear fuel cycle. We need this energy and do not need the Europeans to advise us."

The secretary of the Supreme National Security Council expressed his disappointment at the behaviour of the Europeans and said: "They are forging the Protocol and trying to suspend Iran's nuclear activities, but this is useless because nuclear energy is the right of our nation and is important for the future of our country. There is no doubt that it is an element for the elevation of the country."

In continuation the secretary of the Supreme National Security Council emphasized: "We should stand firm, with wisdom, and this is our demand; not to mention that the Majlis also approved the urgency of a bill demanding that the government not execute the suspension. If we show resistance, we will obtain the technology; otherwise we will be defeated. If they continue to threaten us, we will be obliged to reconsider our membership in the NPT. But we believe that the NPT can be useful if it is executed correctly."

Source: BBC Monitoring Middle East

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