Iran MP: IAEA lacks independence
A senior Iranian lawmaker has dismissed recent illegal claims by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) against Tehran’s civilian nuclear program, saying the body lacks independence.
“Arrogant powers use legal, political, economic and media means to condemn Iran in international circles. So, it is not surprising that the IAEA violate the (Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty) NPT regulations,” Deputy Head of the National Security and Foreign Policy Commission of the Iranian Parliament (Majlis) Hussein Ebrahimi said.
He added that in its latest report on Iran’s nuclear program, the IAEA accused Tehran of making efforts to develop nuclear warheads because it is not an independent international body, Majlis news agency (ICANA) reported.
In its latest confidential nine-page report, IAEA Director General Yukiya Amano claimed on Tuesday that the agency has received new unspecific information indicating that Iran may not be merely developing nuclear energy for civilian purposes.
The report again repeated what it commonly refers to as an overall assessment, claiming that the UN nuclear body cannot maintain that all nuclear items of Iran are peaceful.
The report was circulated to IAEA member states ahead of a meeting of the Board of Governors next month.
Following the release of the report, Iran’s Ambassador to the IAEA Ali Asghar Soltanieh categorically dismissed unfounded allegations against Tehran, cautioning the regulatory body against any political aims.
“The latest IAEA report contained previously repeated and tedious issues, including baseless allegations against certain activities under the pretext of diversion to military objectives,” he said.
In June 2010 the UN Security Council passed a resolution imposing a fourth round of sanctions on Iran over unverified allegations that the country is pursuing a military nuclear program.
Iran has rejected the allegations, saying that as a member of the IAEA and a signatory to the NPT, it has every right to enrich uranium to produce fuel.
The IAEA has conducted numerous inspections of Iran’s nuclear facilities but has never found any evidence showing that Iran’s civilian nuclear program has been diverted to nuclear weapons production.
Source: presstv.ir
