Iran Receives Widespread Support for its Stand in Defence
of its National Rights
During the past week, all sides in the Iranian
nuclear dispute have been staking their positions and preparing for the
upcoming special meeting of the Board of Governors of the International Atomic
Energy Agency (IAEA) to be held in Vienna on February 2-3, 2006. On the one
hand, Britain, France and Germany (the EU-3) and the United States who
requested the special IAEA meeting have been trying to line up support for
their efforts yo have the issue of Iran’s alleged
violations of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) referred to the UN
Security Council. At the same time, many other countries have been discussing
the issue with Iranian representatives and stating their support for Iran’s
right to undertake research and develop nuclear power for peaceful purposes.
The United States and EU-3 have decided on a
"division of labour" to lobby members of
the Board of Governors of the IAEA to vote for whatever resolution tey present to the Vienna meeting. The contents of a draft
resolution have not been disclosed because the U.S. and EU-3 still do not have
an agreement with Russia and China on the matter. U.S. Secretary of State
Condoleezza Rice is scheduled to meet the foreign ministers of Britain, France,
Germany, Russia and China in London on January 30 to discuss plans for the IAEA
meeting.
Another major target of lobbying by the U.S.
and EU-3 has been India which is also a member of the IAEA Board of Governors.
On January 25, US Ambassador to India,
David Mulford, warned that a deal giving India American
nuclear technology could collapse if India does not back a UN motion against
Iran. India's foreign ministry replied that the ambassador’s comments were
"inappropriate and not conducive" to U.S.-India relations.
The U.S. and EU-3 have also demanded that the
General Director of the IAEA ignore the norms and procedures of the agency and
present a report on Iran's nuclear
activities for the February 2 meeting. Such a report is planned for the
regularly scheduled meeting of the Board of Governors on March 6 and will
contain the results of recent IAEA inspections of nuclear facilities in Iran
that are not yet complete.
Also, during the past week, rumours were spread through newspapers in Germany and
Turkey warning of an imminent NATO military attack on Iran. These stories were
exposed as disinformation planted by the United States to increase its pressure
on Iran
Meanwhile, the Iranian government has been
holding discussions with other governments to explain its stand on the nuclear
issue. Many countries have expressed support for the stand of the Iranian government
and Iran’s right to participate in nuclear research and develop nuclear
technology for peaceful purposes based on the statutes of the Non-Proliferation
Treaty (NPT). They also support the Iranian stand that its case should be
resolved within the framework of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
and should not be referred to the UN Security Council. In addition they support the Iranian proposal
to study the suggestions from other countries and to renew the talks that were
cancelled by the EU-3. The Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) carried reports
on some of these meetings, which are detailed below.
South Korea
South Korean Foreign Minister Ban Ki-Moon said in Seoul on January 11 that Iran is entitled
to peaceful use of nuclear technology. He further told the visiting Iranian
Deputy Foreign Minister for Asia and the Pacific, Mehdi
Safari, that Iran should be able to benefit from peaceful nuclear technology
within the framework of the International Atomic Energy Agency's (IAEA) terms
and regulations. Speaking of Tehran's confidence-building measures and its
right to develop nuclear technology for peaceful purposes, he hoped for
settlement of Iran's nuclear issue through diplomatic means, talks with the
three European States and cooperation with the IAEA.
South Africa
On January 18,
South Africa's Deputy Foreign Minister, Aziz Pahad,
and Iran's Acting Foreign Minister, Mehdi Mostafavi held discussions in Pretoria. South Africa is
another member of the Board of Governors of the IAEA and has said that Iran has the right to use nuclear
technology for peaceful purposes. In a statement following the meeting, the
South African foreign ministry stated: "South Africa believes there is no
alternative to continuing dialogue and negotiations to reach a long-term
agreement that takes due consideration of the rights, obligations, concerns and
aspirations of all." It also
stated: "We appeal to all parties to refrain from any action that could
further increase tension and confrontation."
Thailand
On January 21, Thailand's Minister of
Transport, Pongsak Ruktapongpisan,
held discussions in Bangkok with the Iranian Ambassador to Thailand, Mohsen Pakain. The Thai minister
said that peaceful nuclear activities are the key to the development and
progress of every country. He declared his country's support for Iran's right
to access nuclear technology for peaceful purposes. "Given the ascending
trend of population growth, developing countries such as Iran have no
alternative rather than using nuclear energy to achieve sustainable
development," he said. The Thai minister referred to Iran as a bridge
connecting Asia and Europe and underlined that access of the Association of
South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) member states to the Central Asian states and
Caucasus is of great importance.
Qatar
On January 23, Qatar's First Deputy Prime
Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Hamad
bin-Jassim ale-Thani, in a
meeting with Iran's President Ahmadinejad, said,
"Islamic Republic of Iran's declaration of its stands and logical
argumentation to prove its legitimate right to have access to nuclear energy
reminds us of the confrontation of Prophet Moses (PBUH) in his confrontation
with Pharaoh."
Cuba
On January 23, Iran's Ambassador to Cuba Ahmad
Edrisian conferred with Cuba's Government Minister Gabrisas in Havana. Cuba is a member of the Board of
Governors of the IAEA. The Iranian ambassador presented a report on bilateral
economic ties, Iran's stand on its peaceful nuclear program, and President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's recent
proposal on status of observing the human rights in the West. The Cuban
minister, who is in charge of the two countries' joint economic commission,
expressed satisfaction with the improving economic and business relations
between the two countries that he said are now stronger than ever before. He
also expressed his support for the moves initiated jointly by Iran and Cuba to
boost the bilateral economic ties. The Cuban government minister also announced
Havana's strong support for Tehran in its natural right to take advantage
of nuclear power. He added: "Cuba's
stands on human rights, too, are quite the same as Iran's, and Havana is ready
for cooperation with Tehran at all international scenes."
Venezuela
On the same day, Iran's Ambassador to Cuba also
conferred with Venezuelan Foreign Minister Ali Rodriguez, who was visiting
Havana, on the expansion of trilateral cooperation among Iran, Cuba and
Venezuela. At the meeting, the Venezuelan foreign minister described current
relations between Iran and Venezuela as 'excellent'. Joint economic cooperation, such as
manufacturing of tractors and construction of a cement factory, indicates the
depth of such friendly ties, he said. Welcoming trilateral cooperation among
Iran, Venezuela and Cuba, he called for implementation of agreements signed
earlier by the three countries. Supporting Iran's peaceful nuclear activities,
Rodriguez said, "Countries which are capable of destroying life many times
over are determined to hinder the development of developing countries."
"We reject the hypocrisy of the West and call for nuclear disarmament
throughout the world," he pointed out.
Yemen
Yemen's Foreign Minister Abu Bakr al-Kurbi has called for
settlement of Iran's nuclear case through diplomacy and dialogue. On January
23, al-Kurbi told Iran's Ambassador, Hossein Kamalian, that he hoped
the issue will be solved in light of Iran's prudence and recognition of
Tehran's right to peaceful use of nuclear energy. He said settlement of
regional problems under present sensitive conditions calls for solidarity and
constant consultations among officials of regional states. He called for
continued consultations between Iran and Yemen in that connection. Providing
the Yemeni minister with a first hand account of developments with Iran's
peaceful nuclear activities, the Iranian diplomat elaborated on Iran's
principled stances towards the inalienable rights of all countries, including
Iran, for peaceful use of the nuclear technology. He stressed Iran's readiness
for continued nuclear dialogue for settlement of the case.
Pakistan
On January 23 the Foreign Office spokesperson
of Pakistan, Tasneem Aslam,
expressed her government's renewed opposition to any use of force against Iran
over the country's nuclear program. She said that Islamabad wants a peaceful
solution of the problem through dialogue. Pakistan is opposed to using force
against Iran and it stands for the resolving the nuclear issue within the
context of International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). She also said that
Pakistan acknowledges Iran's right to acquire peaceful nuclear technology. She
said that the Organization of the Islamic Conference is also not in favor of
using force against any of its member states. Furthermore, Pakistan is not in
favor of taking the Iranian issue to the UN Security Council.
On January 26, Pakistan's Ambassador
(designate) to Iran Shafqat Saeed
said that his country was opposed to the issue making its way to the UN
Security Council. In light of international conventions, resolutions and the
law creating the International Atomic Energy Agency, he maintained Tehran had
the right to continue its peaceful nuclear programs. "The three European
countries and the IAEA should continue their negotiations to resolve the issue
instead of taking it to the Security Council," he contended.
North Africa
On January 23, Tunisian President Zein al-Abedeen ben Ali held a meeting in Tunis with Iran's Vice President
for Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Hojatoleslam Seyed Ahmad Moussavi. He
underlined that all countries including Iran are entitled to nuclear research
and activities. Ben Ali said that his country believes that all member states
of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) have the right to access
nuclear technology for peaceful purposes in accordance with the nuclear
Non-Proliferation Treaty. He referred to the use of peaceful nuclear technology
for economic purposes, including development and public welfare, as the
inalienable right of all NPT members. Criticizing interference of foreign
powers in the internal affairs of Middle East countries, he said that they
always complicate the situation.
Before visiting Tunisia, Iran's Vice President
for Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Hojatoleslam Seyed Ahmad Moussavi. had visited
Algeria, Libya and Egypt for meetings and talks. For their part, officials of
all three countries stressed their support for Iran's right to access peaceful
nuclear technology.
On January 25, Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir said that all countries, including Iran, have the
right to pursue nuclear energy and that the Sudanese government and nation will
defend Iran and their Iranian brothers in the exercise of this right. During a
meeting with the visiting Iranian Vice-President for Legal and Parliamentary
Affairs Ahmad Mousavi in Khartoum, the president
noted that although "Israel has a nuclear arsenal it has never been
subjected to inspections." He pointed out that the use of peaceful nuclear
energy is an indisputable right of all countries along with the right to obtain
nuclear technology in the interest of development and progress, but
"superpowers want to have a monopoly in this field so that less developed
countries would continue to be dependent on them."
Russia
On January 24, Ali Larijani,
secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council and Mehdi
Safari, Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister for Asia and Pacific Affairs held
discussions with Russian officials in Moscow. The Russian government has put
forward a proposal to Iran to enrich its uranium on Russian territory. Ali Larijani said:
"We positively evaluate this offer."
He added that "this plan can be perfected" during further
Russian-Iranian talks planned for February. The head of Russia's Federal Atomic
Energy Agency Sergei Kiriyenko
said that Moscow's proposal for an Iran-Russia joint uranium enrichment plan
will be on his itinerary when he travels to Tehran.
Indonesia
The Indonesian Foreign Minister Noer Hassan Wirajuda,
during a meeting in Tehran on January 25 with Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, said that as
a Muslim country, Indonesia is proud of Iran's achievements in scientific and
industrial fields, particularly in the field of peaceful nuclear technology. He
said, "We have always stressed that the NPT members are entitled to take
peaceful advantage of that technology". He added: "Accusing a country of having suspicious
intentions in that respect is totally unacceptable." The Indonesia Foreign
Minster denounced the rushed reference of Iran to the UN Security Council,
saying, "Indonesia believes the Western countries should continue
negotiations within the rules of the IAEA and the NPT with Iran." Wirajuda said that his country is glad that it has not been
Iran that has blocked the path for the continuation of nuclear talks and sound
logic.
China
On January 26, Ali Larijani,
secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, held meetings in Beijing
with Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing and other
senior Chinese officials. China has consistently advocated a policy of
negotiations on the Iranian nuclear issue. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman
Kong Quan said that the issue should be resolved
within the governing laws and regulations of the International Atomic Energy
Agency (IAEA). He said that the resolution of the issue requires efforts on the
part of all sides in the case. Kong said his country prefers continued
diplomacy and constructive negotiations as the best means of resolving Iran's
nuclear case before the next IAEA meeting. Noting that his country, as a
permanent member of the UN Security Council, has the right of veto in the
council, Kong declared that China opposes the use of threats or force,
including sanctions, to resolve issues. He cautioned all sides in Iran's
nuclear case to exercise self-restraint and expand the period of talks. The
Russian suggestion would be a good attempt to break the impasse and prepare the
ground for further talks, the Chinese official reiterated. He underscored that
China has always advocated diplomatic efforts over and above any other method
of ending the standoff over Iran's nuclear programs.