“We are completely ready to hold talks to work out a proper formula to provide solid assurances that the program will remain civilian forever. But on the other hand, we must receive sufficient assurances that we can continue the civilian nuclear program and enrichment for civilian purposes,” Ambassador Ali Ahani said in an interview with Radio Courtoisie in reply to a question about the dispute over Tehran’s nuclear program, which Iran says insists is for peaceful energy and medical purposes but the West claims may be aimed at developing a nuclear weapons capability. 

 

“We are a signatory to the NPT (Non-Proliferation Treaty), and we completely honor our commitments,” Ahani said.   

 

He also mentioned the fatwa (religious edict) that Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei has issued declaring that the production, stockpiling, and use of nuclear weapons are all haram (prohibited in Islam) and said, “So, we are not seeking nuclear weapons at all.” 

 

The International Atomic Energy Agency has so far spent over 7,500 man-hours inspecting Iran’s nuclear facilities, which is unprecedented among the agency’s members, Ahani said, adding that over 100 unannounced inspections of Iran’s nuclear facilities have been carried out by the UN nuclear watchdog.   

 

Iranian First Vice President Mohammad Reza Rahimi also said on Tuesday that Iran “plans to declare in the United Nations that (it) will never seek nuclear weapons.”   

 

EP/PA

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