|
Iran says nuclear program not negotiable
TEHERAN - Iran reiterated Friday that its nuclear program is not up for negotiation, despite possible calls by the UN Security Council for it to accede to demands by the UN nuclear watchdog and immediately halt all nuclear enrichment activities.We have said it many times, our nuclear program is a peaceful one. The right of the Iranian people of having it is not negotiable, Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki told Tehran worshippers in speech before the sermon. The right of the Iranian nation is stated in the Non-Proliferation Treaty, and the right was not bestowed to us by other countries, he said, as worshippers chanted nuclear energy is our undeniable right. The International Atomic Energy Agencys reporting Irans nuclear case to the United Nations Security Council is a politicized move, Mottaki added. Meanwhile, the head of Irans body Guardian Council vetting body, Ayatollah Ali Janati said: They have taken us to the Security Council; they can do what ever they want to do. However, he added we will resist and we are ready to pay the price. Leading the Friday prayer sermon, Janati said we have to stand firm since the glory of Islam and Muslims depends on things like this. The full council is set to meet Friday to consider a Franco-British statement calling on Iran to accede to all demands made by the IAEA and immediately halt all nuclear enrichment activities. The text urges Iran to resume implementation of the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treatys Additional Protocol, which allows for wider inspections of a countrys nuclear facilities. It also requests IAEA head Mohamed ElBaradei to report on Iranian compliance within 14 days. Posted by: Steve 2006-03-17 |
| http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=145741 |