President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad unveiled Iran’s latest nuclear proposal on Saturday in a speech at the United Nations. The new formula is aimed at restoring Iran’s legitimate right to nuclear technology and building international confidence related to our civilian nuclear program.
The proposal, among other things, conforms to international law and reiterates Tehran’s will and determination to assure the world of its commitment to work closely with the IAEA. The offer is yet another demonstration of Iran’s declared intention not to acquire nuclear weapons.
During the 1980-88 Iraq-Iran war, Saddam Hussein’s regime extensively deployed poison gas and other banned weapons against Iranian troops and civilians.
But true to its Islamic tenets, Iran never retaliated in kind. This means the Islamic Republic will not violate religious principles even in the most difficult and dangerous times.
Regarding nuclear and related issues, Tehran believes the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) needs to be revived and reviewed in detail and possible violations of the treaty be investigated outside the domain of politics.
Revival of NPT will help ensure its signatories are not secretly involved in acquiring or producing nuclear weapons. It will also provide them with technical and economic facilities for the peaceful use of nuclear technology. It can also help put an end to what the Iranian president condemned as “nuclear apartheid“.
Under the present non-proliferation regime, not only are some selected countries allowed to misuse nuclear technology with the aim of developing banned weapons, but also countries like Israel have refused international probe into their nuclear sites.
Strange as it may sound, Iran is being asked to halt its legitimate nuclear program, which has long been under the full surveillance of the International Atomic Energy Agency. It is obvious that such demands have no legal basis and wil never be accepted by the nation.
Ahmadinejad’s speech at the UN World Summit was yet another indication of the nation’s uncompromising stance on acquiring nuclear technology to augment its development agenda.
However, the president told the world leaders that as part of efforts to give further assurances about the peaceful nature its nuclear activities, Iran is willing to let in government and private companies from other countries to take part in its uranium enrichment project. That is, in addition to the systematic IAEA surveillance and routine inspections, the participation of foreign firms will once and for all eliminate all doubts about the true nature of our nuclear activities.
Another point conveyed by the president in unambiguous terms was that while Iran has the technical knowledge and capability to produce nuclear fuel, there can simply be no legal premise for it to import this sensitive product.
Impartial observers attest that it is an act of humiliation for Iran to be asked to buy nuclear fuel from others as there are no guarantees or international conventions guiding the sale of nuclear fuel and can be easily abused for purely political reasons.
Iran is not a new comer to such ups and downs. Our experience in the construction of the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant is a clear reminder that governments can very easily forget their commitments under political pressure.
Demanding Iran to close its eyes to such stark realities is nothing but defiance of common sense.
During its lengthy negotiations with the so-called EU3, Tehran worked hard at confidence building while at the same time insisted on its inalienable right to nuclear technology within the framework of international law. It will continue to do so without fear or favor.
Amid all this, one crucial question is whether the EU3 (France, Germany, UK) can produce evidence as to the compatibility of their demand on Iran with the international law? Or are they sinking under US pressure and the weight of their own political interest?
Needless to say, the ongoing discriminatory approach towards the NPT and the widespread ignorance of and indifference towards the rights of other nations will soon become a thing of the past. It is inconceivable to force a sovereign state to forget about its legitimate right and national interest.
Iran has made known in no uncertain terms that it will draw on its entire ability and capacity to contribute to world peace and security. This it has done by contributing effectively to efforts towards helping restore security in the region, particularly in war-battered Iraq and Afghanistan.
As a matter of policy, the Islamic state has given priority to constructive interaction and cooperation with the international community. Western powers would make a colossal error of judgment if they act in a way that undermines this positive trend both at the regional and international level.