Iran Expresses Concern to IAEA on Revelations of Confidential Information

March 2, 2005

Weapon Program: 

  • Nuclear

A member of Iran delegation to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Cyrus Nasseri said here Wednesday that Tehran is serious concerned on revelation of some confidential information handed to the nuclear watchdog body. In statements to the IAEA governing council session in Vienna, he added that despite the repeated requests by Iran regarding the secretive nature of information on Iran`s nuclear activities and IAEA Secretary General, secrecy has not been kept.

In light of the real threats of military attacks on the installations covered by safeguards and other types of installations visited by the IAEA inspectors, concerns on lack of secrecy have beenintensified, he said.

The mere utterance of such threats on the part of powers possessing nuclear weapons against countries with no such missiles is an important issue, because it would call into question the stability principles and underpinnings of the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and bodes ill for the security and stability of the region, Nasseristated .

He also called on IAEA for taking serious and explicit steps toaddress the problem.

Apparently, some of the problems are related to the electronic eavesdropping and secret listening devices, over which the Iranian representative to the IAEA was also adamant for an immediate andcomplete resolution.

Nasseri also a member of Iranian delegation in talks with the European trio of France, Britain and Germany, in another part of his statements welcomed cooperation on the part of other states and steps taken by the IAEA to rectify the P-2 centrifuge and contamination." Iran has given IAEA information on various issues above andbeyond what is required from it within the framework of thesafeguards agreement."

On the inspection of the `Parchin` military facilities he added that Iran has, as good will gesture and confidence building and notas an obligation, agreed to the visit by the inspectors from the site.

"Any additional request to visit the site again is outside parameters of the prior agreements," Nasseri underscored. He further said that Iran will continue cooperating with the nuclear watchdog. "Iran is serious and sincere in its dialogue withthe European Union."

He emphasized the voluntary nature of uranium enrichment by Iran saying that the step is directly related to the progress in Iran-EUtalks.

Tehran is firmly resolved to achieve a respectable standing in production and distribution of nuclear fuel and aims to be a playerin the lucrative market in the future.

At the same time Iran, not now, nor in the future will deviate from peaceful use of nuclear activities and can give firm andverifiable assurances with this respect to the agency.

Agreement with the European troika is pursued on the basis of firm and observable guarantees and an agreement is technicallyfeasible and implementable, Nasseri underlined.

"Although it appears that to achieve a mutual satisfactory agreement requires a more conducive political atmosphere," hereiterated.

Exchange of assurances between Iran and EU conveys more confidence for parties and increase in mutual confidence will be constructive inforging stability in the region.

"Also sincerity and support by others can be an impetus forpositive outcome to the negotiations," he said.

Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi said here Tuesday that the Islamic Republic of Iran is now a powerful country because of its access to nuclear technology and stressed that Europeans themselves realize thatthey could not embark on force when talking to Iran.

Making the remarks in a question and answer session during the opening ceremony of the 15th Persian Gulf Conference, he referred to the formation of three working groups in the negotiation process between Iran and the three European states as well as the representative of the European Council and said they focused on the fact that Iran regarded gaining access to nuclear technology forpeaceful purposes as its legitimate right.

He further pointed out that Iran needed 20 nuclear power plants to generate 20,000 megawatts of electricity it needs.

Believing that obstacles on the way of Iran attaining its right should be settled through negotiations, he gave the assurance to European countries that Iran is never after producing nuclear arms. Kharrazi further pointed out that Iran has always voiced its readiness to cooperate with the International Atomic Agency Energy (IAEA) and the European trio of Britain, Germany and France to work out a formula which would permit Iran to continue its enrichment activities while assuring the IAEA that it would not seek any nucleararms.

He went on to express hope that the evaluation of the talks held so far in mid-March would bring positive results because thecontinuation of the talks depends on the assessment.

Stressing that Iran`s legal right to manipulate peaceful nuclear technology could not be replaced by the offered economic incentives, he stressed that the Iranian nation would never let the government or any group deprive it from its lawful right.