Iran denies having nuclear weapons technology ( 2003-09-25 09:11) (Agencies)
Iranian Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi on
Wednesday denied that Iran has the technology to produce nuclear weapons and
reaffirmed that Tehran would never abandon its nuclear programs.
"No, we do not have the technology to produce nuclear weapons. We have the
technology to enrich uranium. This is a difference between having the technology
to enrich uranium needed for power plant as fuel and the technology to actually
make a bomb," he told a meeting on the fringes of the U.N. General Assembly.
With Iran under a deadline set by the U.N. nuclear watchdog agency to prove
by Oct. 31 that its nuclear aims are peaceful, Kharrazi gave little ground.
Tehran is willing to negotiate on stricter inspections with the International
Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) "but the problem is the Americans believe (that) is
not enough," he said.
Asked if Iran would consider abandoning its nuclear activities, Kharrazi,
speaking at an event sponsored by the Business Council for the U.N., said: "No.
No way. No reason."
The IAEA, under U.S. pressure, has raised concerns about Iran's nuclear aims
and given Tehran until the end of October to dispel doubts it is secretly
developing nuclear arms.
The agency has also urged Tehran to sign and implement an Additional Protocol
of the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty which would allow snap inspections of
any suspected site.
CHIRAC PRESSURE
French President Jacques Chirac, in an interview with USA Today, said if Iran
"agrees to all the necessary controls" he would back Tehran's development of a
civilian nuclear program.
But if not, Chirac said he would support a U.S. push to take the issue to the
U.N. Security Council where sanctions might be imposed.
Underscoring their charge that Iran is developing arms, the Americans say the
Islamic republic does not need nuclear energy because it is one of the world's
major oil producing countries. Hence, its nuclear programs must be for weapons.
But Kharrazi said that with an annual growth rate approaching 8 percent, Iran
is using up its reserves and "we need to diversify our sources of energy."
The United States severed diplomatic ties with Iran in 1979 when Islamic
fundamentalist student revolutionaries held 52 diplomats hostage for 444 days at
the U.S. embassy in Tehran.
Former President Bill Clinton made tentative steps toward resuming
contacts, but President Bush has lumped Iran in an "axis of evil" along
with Iraq and North Korea.
Kharrazi said Washington did not appreciate Iran's help in the U.S.-led war
to oust from Afghanistan the al Qaeda militant group, blamed for the Sept.
11, 2001 attacks.
He said improved ties would depend on "reciprocal" cooperation and renewed
Iran's call for Washington to release $10 billion in frozen Iranian assets and
lift U.S. sanctions.
The Bush administration's "mindset ... has to be corrected. Iran is an anchor
of stability in that region. Why do they have this mindset toward Iran which is
very negative?" he asked.
In a speech before answering questions, Kharrazi called the U.S. occupation
of Iraq a "mistake (which) if left uncorrected may contribute to undermining the
moderate mainstream in the Islamic world."
"The ouster of Saddam (Hussein) was a welcome development, but the situation
in Iraq and the whole region could be much worse if the U.S. chooses to stay the
current course."
