Iran, US in nuclear standoff
2004-06-29 15:31
Tehran - Iran's powerful former president Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani asserted on Tuesday that the Islamic republic would press on with its nuclear programme "to the end" and not even the United States would be able to stop it.
"The United States has put pressure on Iran since the Islamic revolution but has always suffered setbacks. This time too it will suffer a defeat and we will continue our programme to the end," he was quoted as saying by the official news agency IRNA.
Nevertheless, he did reiterate the clerical regime's policy to keep to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and co-operate with the UN's International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
"We are ready to work within the framework of NPT, with all our activities being transparent, so that they can see for themselves our nuclear programme is for peaceful and not military applications," he said.
Iran was earlier this month slapped with yet more criticism from the IAEA over hiding certain parts of its suspect bid to generate nuclear power. The US has also stuck by its view the country should be referred to the UN Security Council for sanctions.
In retaliation, Iran backed away from a suspension of making parts for and assembling centrifuges to enrich uranium - one of several "confidence building measures" in place while the IAEA continues its probe.
Rafsanjani, now the head of Iran's top political arbitration body, the Expediency Council, was asked when Iran could resume the actual enrichment of uranium - a move that would spark a major crisis with the IAEA.
"The suspension was on a voluntary and temporary basis. Of course, Iran has not breached its pledge concerning suspension of uranium enrichment. What has been decided is to resume parts assembly and manufacture. This is only the beginning" he said.
The Islamic republic asserts its nuclear programme is simply aimed at meeting the future energy needs of it burgeoning population and freeing up its vast oil and gas resources for export.