Iran’s Reaction to UN Secretary-General’s Unethical Statements

Text of report by Iranian newspaper Resalat website on 20 January

Iran’s peaceful nuclear activities are in accordance with international rules and regulations and take place under continuous supervision of the International Atomic Energy Agency. In reaction to United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon’s recent statements, Mohammed Ali Hoseyni, the spokesman for Iran’s Foreign Ministry emphasized this point and said: “The UN Secretary General’s statements are inconsistent with the essentials of article 4 of the NPT treaty. Article 4 of the NPT treaty has officially recognized the IAEA member countries’ right to benefit from peaceful nuclear technology and science. But in a contradictory speech inconsistent with his international responsibilities, the UN Secretary General referred to Iran’s peaceful nuclear activities as a threat against world peace and security and demanded that Iran stops its nuclear activities. Ban Ki-moon’s anti-Iranian statements which were announced after his meeting with American officials are a portent that during his period as Head of the UN, this international organization will more than ever before be in the service of Washington’s over-demanding ambitions. Some observers believe that the UN Secretary General’s siding with the White House leaders’ anti- Iranian policy is to prevent the possibility of a reduction in America’s financial help to the UN. But the truth is that Ban Ki- moon’s words are a blatant contravention of the NPT treaty and the IAEA statute. Iran is a member of the NPT treaty and the IAEA. According to Articles 4 and 2 of the NPT treaty, member countries of the IAEA have the right to peaceful use of nuclear technology and science and one of the IAEA’s priorities is to help developing countries to attain peaceful nuclear technology. The international community’s opposition to America’s over-demanding policies as far as Iran’s peaceful nuclear activities are concerned, stems from the fact that by depriving Iran of peaceful use of nuclear technology, White House leaders are determined to deprive other developing countries from the technological and scientific assistance of the IAEA. America is applying pressure on the IAEA to discontinue its cooperation with Iran and this has been met not only with world opposition but the traditional allies of the US within the EU community are also against Washington’s one-sided decision. Under these circumstances, it has surprised the international community that at the start of his responsibilities as UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon has sided with Washington’s unethical policies and has violated the principle of impartiality in upholding the rights of UN member countries whereas the statements and stance of the UN Secretary General should be fair and within the framework of the principles and charter of the UN. The UN Secretary General referred to Iran’s peaceful nuclear activities as a threat whereas under the same circumstances he chose to remain silent regarding the Zionist regime’s unlawful atomic weapons which are a blatant threat to peace and security within the region. Contrary to claims made by UN Secretary General, the IAEA’s numerous reports have always emphasized that Iran’s nuclear activities have never been pursued for military intentions. In its continuous efforts to better acquaint the international community with its peaceful nuclear ambitions, Iran has invited representatives from developing countries, non NPT members of the IAEA, the heads of group 77 and the Arab Union to inspect Iran’s nuclear facilities from the 2nd to the 6th of February. Although Tehran hasn’t spared any efforts in dispelling ambiguities concerning its nuclear activities, neither the politically inclined resolution of the UN Security Council nor the political pressures and anti-Iranian propaganda of White House leaders will be able to prevent the realization of Iran’s wish for lawful use of peaceful nuclear technology.

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