Iranian Parliament convenes in emergency session
Tehran, 6 Feb. (AKI) - Iran's parliament - the Majlis - on Monday convened an emergency closed-door session to discuss the country's next steps in its atomic dispute, following the UN nuclear watchdog's overwhelming approval of a resolution on Saturday reporting Iran to the UN Security Council over its resumed uranium enrichment programme. Majlis Presiding Board member, Mohsen Kouhkan, was quoted by Iran's official IRNA news agency as saying that MPs unanimously insisted on the Iranian nation's inalienable right to access nuclear energy.
"There is a consensus among all Majlis deputies on the need to access peaceful nuclear energy." IRNA quoted Iran's top nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani as saying after a closed-door meeting with MPs.
"We believe the Iranian nation will never allow us to renounce our legal right to access peaceful nuclear energy and surrender to the political will of the Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the UN Security Council," he added.
However, the IAEA resolution has divided that country's press, with some papers, such as the conservative Tehran Times calling for a continued hard line, but reformist papers like Aftab-e-Yazd and E'tmaad-e-Melli worrying that this approach is at the root of Tehran's problems.
Iran's standoff with the international community over its atomic programme intensified last month when Iran removed IAEA seals at its uranium enrichment facilities.
Iran has however vowed to continue its commitment to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and cooperation with the IAEA. But in line with a parliamentary bill approved last November, it has said it will no longer allow snap IAEA inspections of its facilities.
Iran is still seeking a diplomatic solution to the crisis and its foreign ministry has said it will make every effort to do so at the next IAEA session in March. Russia and China - which as permanent members of the UN Security Council can veto its resolutions - also favour this route.
Iranian nuclear officials are due to meet Russian counterparts on 16 Feburary in Moscow to discuss Russia's plan to enrich Iranian nculear on Russian territory under IAEA supervision. Observers say if the two sides reach agreement, this could be a major way forward out of the current standoff.
The IAEA resolution was tabled by Britain, France and Germany, the so-called EU3, after they said they had reached the "end of the road" in attempts to persuade Iran to give up its uranium enrichment programme in exchange for economic and technological incentives.
Iran maintains its nuclear ambitions are entirely peaceful, and that it is seeking to generate nuclear power only. However, when highly enriched, uranium can be used to make nuclear warheads. The United States and other countries believe Iran's nuclear programme conceals covert nuclear weapons ambitions.
"There is a consensus among all Majlis deputies on the need to access peaceful nuclear energy." IRNA quoted Iran's top nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani as saying after a closed-door meeting with MPs.
"We believe the Iranian nation will never allow us to renounce our legal right to access peaceful nuclear energy and surrender to the political will of the Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the UN Security Council," he added.
However, the IAEA resolution has divided that country's press, with some papers, such as the conservative Tehran Times calling for a continued hard line, but reformist papers like Aftab-e-Yazd and E'tmaad-e-Melli worrying that this approach is at the root of Tehran's problems.
Iran's standoff with the international community over its atomic programme intensified last month when Iran removed IAEA seals at its uranium enrichment facilities.
Iran has however vowed to continue its commitment to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and cooperation with the IAEA. But in line with a parliamentary bill approved last November, it has said it will no longer allow snap IAEA inspections of its facilities.
Iran is still seeking a diplomatic solution to the crisis and its foreign ministry has said it will make every effort to do so at the next IAEA session in March. Russia and China - which as permanent members of the UN Security Council can veto its resolutions - also favour this route.
Iranian nuclear officials are due to meet Russian counterparts on 16 Feburary in Moscow to discuss Russia's plan to enrich Iranian nculear on Russian territory under IAEA supervision. Observers say if the two sides reach agreement, this could be a major way forward out of the current standoff.
The IAEA resolution was tabled by Britain, France and Germany, the so-called EU3, after they said they had reached the "end of the road" in attempts to persuade Iran to give up its uranium enrichment programme in exchange for economic and technological incentives.
Iran maintains its nuclear ambitions are entirely peaceful, and that it is seeking to generate nuclear power only. However, when highly enriched, uranium can be used to make nuclear warheads. The United States and other countries believe Iran's nuclear programme conceals covert nuclear weapons ambitions.
posted by Marko at 2/06/2006 08:30:00 AM
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