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Iran's conservatives attack EU nuclear deal
Conservative Iranian parliamentarians on Tuesday criticised the nuclear agreement with the European Union so-called big three - Germany, France and Britain. "It is not up to the Europeans to decide over our nuclear programme or grant us the right to pursue nuclear projects but, in line with the Non-Proliferation Treaty charter, it is our internationally acknowledged right," Ahmad Tavakoli, an MP and leading critic of the agreement, told the parliament. | "We have the right to do whatever we want, it sez so in the Koran." |
In a closed-door session, the parliament held a debate over the nuclear concessions made in an agreement with the EU trio. Iran's chief nuclear negotiator Hassan Rowhani, the main architect of the nuclear agreement with the EU trio was forced to justify the concessions to the mainly conservative MPs. "Making such concessions indicates that we have indeed been after manufacturing nuclear weapons," Tavakoli said on behalf of MPs critical to the agreement. "While we have accepted all relevant commitments, the Europeans just gave us ambiguous promises," he added. | "You can't trust those infidels to keep their word. They ain't holy like us." |
The MP said that the parliament unanimously approved last month a draft bill obliging the government to follow peaceful nuclear technology, including nuclear enrichment for its fuel cycle. "The government must respect the bill, as well" Tavakoli said. Rowhani had described the Iran-EU agreement as a state decision" which means that the decision was made by the countrys leadership and not subject to factional disputes. Iranian leaders have however several times stressed that they would bow to whatever parliamentary approvals. | Since the hard-line conservative islamic fundies are the government, isn't this statement a bit redundent? |
Iran agreed on Sunday to suspend uranium enrichment for a time- period of at least three months until relevant negotiations with the EU come to an end. The agreement was finalised on Monday. The MPs in the parliament, who had unanimously voted last month for Iran's right of having nuclear technology and pursuing uranium enrichment, have doubts that the EU will keep its promises to aid Iran in nuclear projects and finalise the long-awaited trade-pact.
Posted by: Steve 2004-11-16 |
