New Delhi
8 November 2007
Iran has not deviated from the peaceful uses of nuclear energy and it
therefore is not worried about what the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) will say
in its forthcoming report on Iran's nuclear programme, visiting Iranian Interior Minister
Mostafa Pour Mohammadi said.
IAEA Director General Dr Mohamed ElBaradei is expected to submit his report later this
month on whether Iran is fulfilling an understanding arrived at in August to answer all
outstanding questions about its nuclear enrichment programme. The report, if it is critical
of Iran's nuclear programme, could be used by the United States and its allies to impose
more sanctions on Iran.
The five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, and Germany (5+1),
will assess Dr ElBaradei's report at their next meeting, which is likely to be held ahead
of the November 22-23 IAEA Board of Governors meeting. Dr ElBaradei has said in an
October 31 interview to CNN that he has "not received any information that there is a
concrete active nuclear weapons programme going on right now."
"We have not done any wrong," Mr Pour Mohammadi said when asked about the
criticism of IAEA Director General Dr Mohamed ElBaradei's 'soft' approach towards Iran.
He added that Iran has the right to pursue a peaceful nuclear programme under the Non-
Proliferation Treaty and the IAEA. "But we see that the US is not accepting international
law," he said, wondering why the US or Israel will not accept Dr ElBaradei's report.
"Who is the right person to express [views on Iran's nuclear programme] -- is it the IAEA
or the US?" Mr Pour Mohammadi wanted to know. He sought to suggest that Iran has
respected international law in the past and it will abide by it in future too, before he
launched another broadside against the US.
"Did they (US) obey international law before attacking Iraq? Was it in accordance with
international law?" he asked. "I am surprised [by the criticism of IAEA.] Why does the US
want to impose unilateral sanctions? Even some allies of the US do not agree with what
it is doing against Iran."
On the imposition of martial law in Pakistan, the Iranian minister said that his country
wished to see the return of law and order, and democracy, to Pakistan as soon as
possible. "Pakistan's stability is to the benefit of the region. We like to see a stable
Pakistan. Democracy will have to be respected," he said.
To a question whether Pakistan could be used as a staging ground for a possible attack
on Iran, Mr Pour Mohammadi said Washignton will "try each and every opportunity" to
harm Iran but the Pakistan Government is intelligent enough to not let its territory be
used by the Americans against Iran.
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