CSM
Senior Member
Boston Globe
February 3, 2005
Iran Says It Will Never Scrap Nuclear Program
By Ali Akbar Dareini, Associated Press
TEHRAN -- Iran will never scrap its nuclear program, and talks with Europeans are intended to protect the country's atomic achievements, not negotiate an end to them, an Iranian official said yesterday.
The remarks by Ali Agha Mohammadi, spokesman of Iran's powerful Supreme National Security Council, are the latest in a hardening of his country's stance amid ongoing talks with European negotiators. They also reflect Tehran's possible frustration at the lack of progress.
Europe is pressing Iran for concessions on its nuclear program, which the United States alleges is aimed at producing atomic weapons. In exchange for nuclear guarantees, the Europeans are offering Iran technological and financial support and talks on a trade deal.
''We have the power to negotiate because we keep our [nuclear] achievements in our hands, and we are negotiating to protect them," Mohammadi said. ''It's definite that we will protect our scientific achievements as a basic pillar, whether talks make progress or not."
He spoke a day after Iran's vice president, Gholamreza Aghazadeh, called on the Europeans to speed up the talks, amid reports that negotiations are deadlocked.
Aghazadeh, who also serves as head of Iran's atomic energy organization, suggested that Iran was not happy with the progress of the talks.
''We have to take the negotiations seriously and accelerate them," he told reporters.
February 3, 2005
Iran Says It Will Never Scrap Nuclear Program
By Ali Akbar Dareini, Associated Press
TEHRAN -- Iran will never scrap its nuclear program, and talks with Europeans are intended to protect the country's atomic achievements, not negotiate an end to them, an Iranian official said yesterday.
The remarks by Ali Agha Mohammadi, spokesman of Iran's powerful Supreme National Security Council, are the latest in a hardening of his country's stance amid ongoing talks with European negotiators. They also reflect Tehran's possible frustration at the lack of progress.
Europe is pressing Iran for concessions on its nuclear program, which the United States alleges is aimed at producing atomic weapons. In exchange for nuclear guarantees, the Europeans are offering Iran technological and financial support and talks on a trade deal.
''We have the power to negotiate because we keep our [nuclear] achievements in our hands, and we are negotiating to protect them," Mohammadi said. ''It's definite that we will protect our scientific achievements as a basic pillar, whether talks make progress or not."
He spoke a day after Iran's vice president, Gholamreza Aghazadeh, called on the Europeans to speed up the talks, amid reports that negotiations are deadlocked.
Aghazadeh, who also serves as head of Iran's atomic energy organization, suggested that Iran was not happy with the progress of the talks.
''We have to take the negotiations seriously and accelerate them," he told reporters.