Iran Denies North Korea is Cooperating in Nuclear Test Preparations – Embassy

MOSCOW. Jan 31 (Interfax) – Iran has denied reports that North Korea is assisting Teheran in preparations to stage nuclear tests.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran denies these rumors alleging North Korea is helping Iran prepare to conduct nuclear tests,” the Iranian embassy in Moscow said in a statement on Wednesday.

The statement says that all of Iran’s activities in the nuclear sector pursue peaceful purposes and that “nuclear weapons have no place in Iran’s defense doctrine whatsoever.”

The Iranian embassy also said that all Iranian nuclear installations are under the control of the International Atomic Energy Agency.

“Evidence proving transparency in Iran’s nuclear activities has been provided to the IAEA more than once, which clears all groundless queries regarding Iran’s goals,” it said.

Western and Russian mass media earlier claimed that North Korea is helping Iran prepare for nuclear tests.

“Groundless reports of this kind are published with the sole purpose of misinforming the public about Iran’s positive moves in tackling nuclear issues and about its rights based on the Treaty on the Nonproliferation of Nuclear Weapons,” the Iranian embassy said.

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