Iran shrugs off UN Security Council threat
President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad today shrugged off the decision to refer Iran’s nuclear programme to the UN Security Council, saying his country would never abandon its plans for the peaceful exploitation of atomic power.
“The people of Iran will not give up their right of exploiting peaceful nuclear technology,” state television quoted Ahmadinejad as saying.
“They are not intimated by the arrogant uproar and propaganda today.”
Speaking in the north-western town of Mineh, Ahmadinejad said Iran would continue negotiations within the current international framework over the direction of its nuclear programme.
“But that doesn’t mean blind obedience to the West,” he said.
Ahmadinejd said Iran still planned to respond in late August an offer of incentives by the US and four EU member states.
“We are interested in seeing this issue resolved peacefully,” Ahmadinejad was quoted as saying.
“But if they (the West) create tension, then the outcome would affect the Europeans. The tension would primarily harm them.”
He said Iran might revise its nuclear policy, but he did not elaborate.
Later in the neighbouring town of Sarab, Ahmadinejad said resolving the case would take time.
“A several years-old case is not solvable in only a few months. In a nuclear case, two, three, four months is not a remarkable time,” he said.
Meanwhile the official Islamic Republic News Agency, IRNA, said in a commentary that the decision by Europe was a contribution to Washington’s one-sided approach.
“The decision will not bear any fruit except feeding mistrust and tension… Europe should understand that resorting to threats will complicate the issue, and they will be responsible for any delay in solving Iran’s nuclear case,” it said.
The foreign ministers of the permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany agreed on the referral in Paris yesterday, saying they had given Iran long enough to respond to a package of incentives intended to persuade it to abandon uranium enrichment – a process that can produce material for nuclear bombs or power stations.
“The Iranians have given no indication at all that they are ready to engage seriously on the substance of our proposals,” French foreign minister Philippe Douste-Blazy said, speaking on behalf of the world powers.
“We have no choice but to return to the United Nations Security Council.”
The powers said in a statement that they would seek a resolution requiring Iran to suspend its uranium enrichment.
However, Russia said it was premature to discuss imposing sanctions on Iran.
According to Russian news agencies, Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov said Thursday that the possibility of sanctions against Iran was at this point “a hypothetical question”.
“If and when we understand that the situation cannot be resolved, then we will think,” RIA-Novosti quoted him as saying.
Iran’s foreign minister also commented on the matter today, after meeting with his South African counterpart, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma.
“The Islamic Republic of Iran follows peace and stability. We advise the other party to avoid any act that causes pessimism, as we do,” IRNA quoted Manouchehr Mottaki as saying.
Mottaki said he hoped to have a comprehensive answer on the issue in coming days, but did not elaborate.
The Big Five plus Germany want Iran to respond to the incentives before the G8 summit that is scheduled to open on Saturday in St. Petersburg, Russia.
The US and some of its allies accuse Iran of using its civilian nuclear programme as a cover to build atomic weapons. Tehran has denied the charges, saying its nuclear programme is geared merely toward generating electricity.
Although details of the new offer have not been made public, diplomats have said it includes economic incentives and a provision for the US to offer Iran some nuclear technology, lift some sanctions and join direct negotiations.
