Statement of the Iranian Ministry of
Foreign Affairs in Response to the Statement from the Five Nuclear States - February 1,
2006
Reprinted below is the text
of the statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic
Republic of Iran on February 1, 2006 in response to the decision of the five
nuclear states – United States, Britain, France, Russia and China – to
recommend referral of Iran to the U.N. Security Council. Modern Communism has edited the text
in some places to improve the English translation.
* * *
In
the course of the past two and a half years, the Islamic Republic of Iran has
made the greatest efforts for expanded cooperation with the International
Atomic Energy Agency. Nevertheless, the five nuclear Permanent Members of the
Security Council issued a statement which is totally political and contrary to
the recognized international rules and regulations.
The
Islamic Republic of Iran has fully complied with the provisions of the NPT, has
voluntarily implemented the Additional Protocol and accepted inspections, and
has taken measures beyond the requirements of the Additional Protocol for the
sake of removing misunderstandings, and to demonstrate utmost cooperation,
transparency, and confidence building.
While
the path to negotiations is still open and there are yet substantial
opportunities for finding a rational solution, political motives can make the
situation even more difficult and complicated.
It
is regrettable that states that lay claim to civilization are using the threat
of referral to the Security Council against a nation merely on grounds of “research
and development”.
It
is also totally amazing that while all nuclear activities of the Islamic
Republic of Iran are under the inspection of the Agency on a voluntary basis and
the Agency has the possibility for the maximum inspections of our facilities,
some governments are trying to bring an end to this arrangement and to the
voluntary actions of the Islamic Republic of Iran.
This
action presents the government of
This
statement [by the five nuclear states] has no legal basis and violates the
provisions of the NPT and the statute of the IAEA.
These
actions will bring nothing but loss of credibility for the Agency and the
weakening of the standing of the international treaties and bodies. Those
behind such actions must accept the consequences.
The
commanding and arrogant tone of the statement violates the professional and
legal independence of the Agency. It also undermines the rights of the member
states of the NPT, the IAEA Board of Governors and even other members of the
Security Council, and demonstrates that a closed club of a few members from the
powerful countries manage the affairs of our world against the desire and the
will of nations, governments and the international community.
It
is regrettable that states with the largest arsenals of nuclear weapons,
instead of trying to build international confidence through implementing their
nuclear disarmament obligation under the NPT, are developing new and more
sophisticated types of nuclear weapons and openly threatening to use them against
non-nuclear states.
These
states intend to hold on to their monopoly of nuclear know-how and technology
and deprive other nations of their legal rights to the [x1]peaceful use of nuclear technology.
Their conduct has given rise to a wave of mistrust in the international
community about their real intentions. They need to act, to take constructive
and practical measures to build confidence and trust in the international
community.
In
our opinion, resolving differences of views and answering the questions about
the peaceful nature of
These
threats will not have the slightest impact on the resolve of the people and the
government of
[x1]Added “the”