Security Council interference in Iran nuclear issue is illegal
Tehran Times Political Desk

TEHRAN -- Any probable action by the UN Security Council against Iran will be a “clear violation of the UN Charter”, government spokesman Gholam-Hossein Elham said here on Saturday.

According to the IAEA report, Iran’s nuclear activities are not against “international law” and the Security Council’s interference in this issue is “illegal”, Elham told reporters in a news conference.

“Reviewing Iran’s case in the UN Security Council is illegal. It is like beating the air.”

On Friday, the Security Council put the finishing touches to a draft resolution imposing further sanctions on Tehran for refusing to halt uranium enrichment.

The body is expected to vote on the resolution on Monday.

The non-permanent members of the UN Security Council Indonesia, Libya, South Africa, and Vietnam have voiced reservations about the need for a third set of sanctions on Iran over its nuclear program since the IAEA reported progress in Iran’s efforts to come clean on past nuclear activities.

A Western official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Vietnam on Thursday proposed some amendments to the draft that would reinforce the role of the IAEA in the Iranian nuclear dossier and would make clear that the proposed sanctions would not affect bilateral ties with Tehran.

South Africa’s envoy to the IAEA Abdul Minty warned against any action “which can create the risk that Iran reduces or even terminates its cooperation with the IAEA.”

Indonesia’s UN Ambassador Marty Natalegawa took an even tougher line against sanctions, hinting that his country might abstain during the vote or even vote against the resolution.

Libya’s ambassador, Giadallah Ettalhi, indicated on Monday that he would probably vote against the resolution.

China said Thursday that the new sanctions should not undermine trade.

Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki wrote a letter on Wednesday to the council arguing that sanctions against Iran lacked any legal basis and only undermined the council’s credibility.

Iran is a signatory to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and has legitimate right to produce nuclear fuel to meet the growing energy needs.

International Atomic Energy Agency Director General Mohamed ElBaradei presented a report on Iran’s nuclear program to the IAEA Board of Governors on Feb. 22 which vindicated the country by reaffirming its nuclear transparency.

“The agency has been able to continue to verify the non-diversion of declared nuclear material in Iran,” ElBaradei said in the report.

Elham pointed out that there is no threat to world peace and security except the Zionist regime, and “instead of working on Iran’s nuclear issue which is already closed, the Security Council should better take up the issue of the Zionist regime, which has undermined the region’s security.”

The U.S. excessive insistence on issuing a resolution against Iran proves the country’s “unrelenting enmity” toward the Islamic Republic, and the nuclear is only a ‘pretext’.

“We are trying to realize international justice, and develop our country; the path we have chosen is completely legal, and as long as we pursue the path to independence there could be enmities,” the government spokesman stated.

Asked if Tehran’s negotiations with the five permanent members of the Security Council and Germany will still continue, he said, “This group does not represent the entire world,” and Iran communicates with all countries.

“We have not cut our communication with the 5+1 group.”

However, he added, it is not right to think this group can make decisions on behalf of the entire world

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