Iran wants apologies, compensation for “damages” over nuclear row
Published: Thursday, June 05, 2008
14:20GMT—10:20AM/EST
IRAN - NUCLEAR - IAEA
Washington, 5 June (IranVNC)—Iran wants apologies and compensation for the “damage” it has incurred as a result of an investigation by the U.N. nuclear watchdog into that country’s nuclear past, Iran’s envoy to the International Atomic Energy Agency [IAEA] said today.
In an address to the IAEA’s 35-member board of governors in Vienna, Ali Asghar Soltanieh said that “nuclear and industrial countries” had violated Article 4 of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty [NPT] and Article 11 of the IAEA’s constitution, and should be held accountable, according to a transcript of his speech posted on the website of Iran’s state-run television today.
“Considering the above points, the question that arises is: ‘Who is to compensate for these losses and how?’” he asked the board.
“In the case of Iran, those countries that have inflicted damage should, in the first instance, at least accept their mistakes, apologize to the great Iranian nation, correct their behavior and above all, compensate the Islamic Republic of Iran for all the damage inflicted on it,” Soltanieh said.
“The Islamic Republic of Iran and its citizens have the right to resort to legal actions against those who support those illegal measures. These countries should accept responsibility and be accountable for their actions,” he continued.
Iran has been intensely criticized by the international community since Monday, when IAEA chief Mohamed ElBaradei issued a report saying that Tehran had failed to answer key questions about its nuclear past.
Facing these criticisms, Soltanieh dismissed ElBaradei’s recent report as “fabricated” and “a lie.” And earlier this week, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei vowed that the Islamic Republic would continue its nuclear activities despite the demands of what he called the “bullying powers.”
But the U.S. says Tehran’s failure to clarify the IAEA’s questions on its past activities is a sign that Iran is hiding something.
“The questions that remain unanswered strongly suggest that Iran has undertaken a significant state-sponsored effort to develop nuclear weapons – an effort that agency inspectors are not in a position to verify has halted,” AP quoted Gregory Schulte, U.S. Ambassador to the IAEA told the governing board yesterday.
The European Union has also expressed concern over the U.N.’s findings. Slovenian ambassador to the IAEA, Ernest Petric, said the EU “remains seriously concerned that despite more than five years of intense efforts by the IAEA, the agency is still not in a position to determine the full nature of Iran’s nuclear program,” according to AFP.
“In that respect, the EU notes the agency’s concern regarding the possible military dimensions of Iran’s nuclear program,” he added.
Non-western countries have also urged Iran to respond to the agency’s questions.
Norma Goichochea-Estenoz, chairperson for the Non-Aligned Movement [NAM], which includes countries such as Cuba, India and South Africa, have called on Iran to respond to the agency’s questions.
“NAM believes that in clarifying the alleged studies, including the issues such as high explosive testing and missile re-entry vehicle, the Agency would act in accordance with its statute,” AFP quoted Goichochea-Estenoz as saying.
But in a news conference after the meeting, Soltanieh reiterated Tehran’s stance that it would not give up its nuclear “right,” saying: “If these countries imagine that Iran will stop enriching uranium and the peaceful use of nuclear energy, they are making a historical mistake.”
Sources: IRIB in Persian, Associated Press, Agence France-Presse
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