Iran, SA discuss nuclear row
2006-01-18 17:55
Pretoria - Iran on Wednesday started what it termed a "close consultation" with South Africa on the dispute over its nuclear programme ahead of a key meeting of the UN atomic energy agency.
"We believe close consultation between our two countries will help restore peace and stability in each part of the world," Iran's acting foreign minister Mehdi Mostafavi told reporters in Pretoria at the outset of talks.
"Our countries have always had positive and constructive negotiations," he said.
"And we have always had good negotiations between our two countries in the United Nations and in NAM (Non-Aligned Movement) with regard to nuclear activity."
Mostafavi held talks with deputy foreign minister Aziz Pahad ahead of an emergency session of the International Atomic Energy Agency's (IAEA) 35-nation board on February 2-3.
Iran is facing the threat of being referred by the IAEA to the UN security council for resuming research work on uranium enrichment which Israel and the Western powers fear would give the regime the know-how to build a bomb.
"We think this is an excellent opportunity for us to get at least the Iranian understanding of the situation so that when our delegation goes to this meeting, we'll have a holistic picture of what everybody's views are," said Pahad.
South Africa has repeatedly said it is trying to advance international diplomatic efforts to find a solution to the Iranian nuclear dispute.