LONDON (IRNA) -- Two UK-based experts of Middle East studies have welcomed Iran’s determination to build 10 more nuclear sites in the country, condemning the West for hindering Iran from developing state-of-the-art technologies.

Kamal Helbawi, from the Centre for the Study of Terrorism, told IRNA that it is part of the American policy to “keep some countries underdeveloped” for strategic purposes.
“If it is the right of the U.S., Britain, France, Germany and Israel to develop nuclear energy, why should not it be the right of Iran? The West wishes to be always in the lead and to keep the balance of power in favour of Israel in the Middle East.”
President Ahmadinejad instructed on Sunday the Atomic Energy Organisation of Iran (AEOI) to start constructing 10 new nuclear sites as large as enrichment facilities in Natanz.
According to President Ahmadinejad’s instructions, the AEOI was obligated to give proposal for locations of five nuclear sites inside the country over the next two months while begin work on another five.
Referring to the “hegemonic ambitions” of the United States around the world, Helbawi said America will not even allow Europe to get stronger than itself.
“And that’s why they don’t allow others to benefit from new technologies including the nuclear energy at the same level as America is developing itself.”
He said some Arab states in the Middle East are so “dominated” by America that they are hosting hundreds of U.S. soldiers in their soil.
“Such Arab states are not free countries any more under the U.S. influence.”
Helbawi further criticised the International Atomic Energy Agency for not supporting Iran in its drive to access nuclear know-how for energy purposes.
“Like most of the other international agencies, the nuclear watchdog is also under the influence of the West. Except a few organisations, almost all UN-affiliate bodies are working to protect the interests of the West as they are basically dominated by the certain powers.”
He urged Iran try to develop its “own strategy and make sure that it invests in developing new and advanced technologies.”
Helbawi said Iran is the only Muslim country which is insisting on its right to develop advanced technologies.
Also speaking on the phone with IRNA, Saeed Shehabi, the director of Al-Abrar research institute, reiterated the need for Iran to access cutting-edge technologies.
“Every country has the right to have nuclear reactors for peaceful purposes according to the NPT. The West is trying to prevent Iran from having nuclear energy because it simply does not want Iran to acquire advanced technologies.”
Shehabi said Iran is establishing its own nuclear know-how and this in future will prevent the West from benefiting commercially and politically in the Middle East and the Persian Gulf.
“For example, they are building the nuclear industry of the United Arab Emirates at a very huge cost. The United States will reap more than 80 billion dollars from equipping the UAE with nuclear energy. So if Iran acquires the know-how, how could the U.S. reap such a huge amount of money?”
He agreed that Iran is well “on the path to export the civil nuclear technology” to other regional countries and the West is opposing this “for commercial and political purposes”.
Asked about the obligations of the IAEA towards Iran, Shehabid lambasted the UN nuclear watchdog for taking biased stances regarding Iran’s nuclear issue.
“The agency is required by its own mandate to help member states to develop peaceful capabilities. But the problem is that the IAEA, like other international organisations, is under the influence of global powers.”
Shehabi said the “intervention” of the U.S. and its European allies in the IAEA and the “politicisation” of its functions are the main reasons why this international organisation is not playing a “moderate role” in Iran’s nuclear case.