Iranian foreign minister, Dr Kamal Kharrazi, on Tuesday at the opening ceremony of the 15th international conference on Persian Gulf, held at bureau for political and international studies of ministry of foreign affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran, commented on the talks between Iran and Europe on Iran`s nuclear dossier, saying that given the fact that it has gained access to nuclear knowledge, Iran is a powerful country; and the Europeans know that they cannot speak with Iran by the language of force.

He was making the remarks in response to one of the different questions made by those who had taken part in that conference. Three working groups are involved in Iran`s negotiations with the three big European countries, and the representative of the European Union; and the main axis of the talks is that we consider peaceful making use of nuclear technology as our legitimate right, he added.

He further said: For producing 20000 Megawatt of electricity, we need nuclear fuel to operate 20 nuclear power plants; and we ourselves should be able to produce the fuel for the said power plants.

Dr Kharrazi pointed out: Through talks we should reach the understanding that how Iran enjoy its legal right, and the European countries also should rest assured that Iran never proceeds towards producing nuclear weapons.

He emphasized: We have announced the readiness that in our talks and cooperation with the international Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the three big European countries, we come up with a formula that while Iran is continuing the process of uranium enrichment, it gives the guarantee to the Agency that it will not proceed towards developing nuclear weapons.

Pointing to the issue that in the middle of March, the negotiations that will have been held until that time, will be evaluated, Dr Kharrazi said: Continuation of the talks will be for the purpose of coming up with a formula that guarantees Iran`s right, at the same time that it removes the concern of the opposite party. Dr Kharrazi expressed hope that the talks would reach a final result and the evaluation of the negotiations in the middle of March would have good result, since continuation of talks in the future is dependent on the outcome of the said evaluation.

Stressing that foregoing Iran`s legitimate right of making peaceful use of nuclear technology cannot be redressed by offering economic advantages by the opposite party, Dr Kharrazi said: The people of Iran consider peaceful making use of nuclear technology as their legal and legitimate right , and this is something that doesn`t belong to a group or government; and Iranian nation doesn`t allow that the country be deprived of its natural and legitimate right. Asked on Iran`s quality of interaction and cooperation with Iraq, Dr Kharrazi said: For establishment of interaction between Iran and Iraq, the 1975 agreement is a sufficient and suitable basis.

As regards the current situation in Iraq, Dr Kharrazi said: Concerning the situation in Iraq, we have time and again announced our explicit opposition to occupation of the country by the US, which was done by that country in the form of a unilateral action. We spared no opportunity to clearly and explicitly condem the aggression.

He further said: The important thing today is that what can be done for the Iraqi people, in order that they can take their destiny in their hands and decide for their country and their future on their own.

Pointing out that election in Iraq is an important mechanism that can prepare the ground for the Iraqi people to dominate their own affairs, Dr Kharrazi said: We hope that by formation of national assembly and elected government, this important task would be accomplished as soon as possible; and the elected government could bring about security in the country by Iraqi forces, and the alien forces would withdraw from Iraq`s territory.

In response to a Kuwaiti participant on possible US attack against Iran, Dr Kharrazi said: I think the US authorities are wise enough that with the experience they have had in Iraq, they do not embark upon making a new decision, based on attacking Iran; a country which according to president George W.Bush himself, is different from Iraq.

The policy we have adopted in our talks with the Europeans, on our nuclear issues, is very clear, transparent and based on cooperation with IAEA and the European countries, and for eliminating any doubt in this context.

So far our policy has been effective and we are decided to continue it until reaching the final result; and naturally it is the US that has not been able to become successful in the scene of its struggle against the Islamic Republic of Iran, and has failed to fulfil its objectives.

Dr Kharrazi emphasized: The Islamic Republic of Iran was able to prove that it wants to be involved in nuclear activities only for peaceful means and that it has no program for production of nuclear weapons, and that its performance in this line is very transparent.

He stipulated: The fact that we have admitted the inspectors of the IAEA to inspect different parts of Iran, in the framework of 93+2 additional protocol, is indicative of transparency of the country`s position.

He stressed: we will persist on our right.

We hope that, as many of the ambiguities have so far been eliminated , and the director general of IAEA has also announced that there exist no evidence proving that Iran has a program for developing nuclear weapons; all the remaining problems will be settled and Iran can enjoy its legitimate right for making peaceful use of nuclear technology, he went on to say.

In response to a question asked by an Egyptian participant, concerning the US policy in the region and its support to Zionism, Dr Kharrazi said: There is no doubt about this fact that the main axis of the policy of the US in the Middle East region is preserving interests and security of Israel, and stabilization of occupation of the lands of Arab countries by Zionist regime.

He added: Different aspects of the US policies in the region, whether its attitude towards Iran and its effort in Lebanon for destroying unity and integrity of the Lebanese people are indicative of the US intention to help Israel, secure the interests of that regime and normalize The Zionist regime`s relations with the countries of the region.

Dr Kharrazi considered awareness of the people as the most important thing at the present conditions and said: The public opinion of the region does not approve of such policy and the conscious people of the region announce their explicit opposition to such policies.

He stipulated: According to the opinion poll conducted by the American institutes themselves, the absolute majority of the people of the region and more than 90 percent of the people of different countries of the world are opposed to the US policies in the Middle East, and all these are indicative of the fact that such a policy will get nowhere, as one cannot get to anywhere through force and pressure.

. . .