Iran's Response to the Resolution of
the IAEA
In response to the resolution of the Board of
Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reporting Iran to
the United Nations Security Council, the Iranian government has instructed the
head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organization (IAEO) to rescind the voluntary
implementation of the Additional Protocol to the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT)
and other related cooperation with the IAEA. The Iranian government also instructed
the IAEO to begin implementation of research and development and preparatory
work for the use of nuclear fuel technology for peaceful purposes.
On February 5,
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
in a letter addressed to the head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organization wrote:
"Following 2.5 years of Iran's
cooperation with the IAEA on the voluntary suspension of all uranium
enrichment-related work and implementing measures beyond the NPT Additional
Protocol as a gesture of Iran's good will in its peaceful nuclear activities,
the recent session of IAEA Governing Board, under political pressure of several
countries, has voted on a resolution. The resolution, which ignores all
international legalities and contravenes Iran's legitimate and national rights,
has also tarnished the sovereignty and authority of the nuclear watchdog
agency.”
He continued: "With regret for such a
hasty and uncalled for step over the legal and limited research work by Iran,
it is necessary to carry out the law ratified by Majlis
[the Iranian parliament] on November 3, 2005 and implement the following:
1. The commencement of all research, development and preparatory-related work
on nuclear full-cycle technology for peaceful purposes.
2.
To institute a comprehensive call to all experts and academics of national
universities and research institutions to work alongside the IAEO experts with
the aim of further development of the indigenous know-how in various areas of
peaceful use of nuclear technology.
3. All of Iran's peaceful nuclear activities will be carried out within the
framework and provision of the NPT and IAEA safeguard agreements. Cooperation
with the IAEA to observe all technical and legal commitments will also be
continued within this framework. Starting February 5, 2006 the implementation
of the Additional Protocol and other additional cooperation with the IAEA will
be suspended."
On the same day, the president of Iran addressed
a statement to the entire country affirming the government's determination to
defend its inalienable national rights to nuclear activity. He pointed out that
several world powers have announced that the Iranian nation does not even have
the right to conduct research for the peaceful use of nuclear energy. Their
excuse for such an illegal position was said to be the possible diversion of
this research for the development of nuclear weapons. This excuse was made
despite the fact that extensive and unprecedented inspection of the country's
nuclear installations by the IAEA with numerous cameras has not found the slightest
evidence supporting such a claim.
The statement pointed out that "Iran's
government voluntarily suspended its nuclear programs for three years with the
aim of confidence building. However, despite full cooperation, the claims of
these countries kept increasing day by day....
Not only did they fail to take a positive step to call off the ban on
the nation's legal right, but they also announced a new expectation every day.
Now they will not be satisfied unless all our nuclear activities and any
measure to take our nation one step forward are completely stopped. Iran's
government volunteered to implement the Additional Protocol merely for
confidence building and even cooperated with the UN nuclear watchdog beyond the
framework of the law to allow inspection of the country's nuclear installations
without the ratification of Majlis. This is while no
other IAEA member state has ever agreed with such inspection. Besides, to do
away with any excuses, Iran even went so far as declaring its readiness for
participation of other countries in the process of its nuclear fuel cycle.
However, even this effective and unprecedented proposal did not stop the
opposition of the said countries."
The president’s statement continued: "The
unlawful approach of these countries, assuming themselves to represent all
governments and nations, proves that their opposition is based on their
selfishness and monopolism. They keep on pointing to
the UN Security Council, which is supposed to safeguard the world's peace and
security, as a threat for pressuring the nations and thus put into question the
reputation of these international institutions. They are aware that they are
not able to take any remarkable and effective step against the interests of the
Iranian nation and wish to make us withdraw under political pressure.”
In conclusion Ahmadinejad
declared: "As a servant of the nation, the government considers itself
duty-bound to support the noble and courageous people and strongly defend their
rights."