Iran Says UN Nuclear Watchdog Has Enough As IAEA Declines Comment

NUKEWARS

Iran says world powers 'defeated' on nuclear
President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Wednesday boasted that Iran had defeated world powers in the standoff over its nuclear drive and would never give up its right to an atomic programme. "With the help of God, the Iranian nation with its unity, faith and determination stood and defeated the world powers and brought them to their knees," he told a rally in the southern city of Bandar Abbas broadcast on state television. "World powers should know the Iranian nation considers nuclear energy its undeniable and definite right and will not accept any imposition or any additional cruel rules," he added. Ahmadinejad's comments are the latest indication Iran has no intention of ceding to the main demand of world powers that it suspends uranium enrichment operations, which the West fears could be used to make nuclear weapons. The speech came ahead of a key report later this month by International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) chief Mohamed ElBaradei which is to give details on Iran's cooperation with the UN nuclear watchdog. "Until the end, the people's slogan will be one thing: nuclear energy is our undeniable right," said Ahmadinejad to cheers from the crowd. He reaffirmed his belief that Iran's nuclear case was closed. He warned world powers: "If you come up with a new game... you will be facing this same nation," said Ahmadinejad.

by Staff Writers
London (AFP) Feb 20, 2008
Iran's former top nuclear negotiator insisted in an interview published Wednesday that the UN's nuclear watchdog had enough information from the Islamic Republic about its nuclear programme.

Ali Larijani, speaking to the Financial Times, criticised the five permanent members of the Security Council and Germany for pressing for more sanctions before a key IAEA report due out later this month.

Britain, China, France, Russia, the United States and Germany agreed to push for a third UN resolution penalising Iran before International Atomic Energy Agency chief Mohamed ElBaradei presents his report.

"It is (the) IAEA that is important to us," Larijani, who resigned from his post in October, told the business daily.

"We have finished answering all their ... questions."

The West accuses Iran of seeking to develop nuclear weapons, a charge Tehran rejects, insisting that its nuclear activities are entirely peaceful and aimed at meeting energy needs.

The UN Security Council has already imposed two rounds of sanctions against Iran over the issue. ElBaradei's report is likely to influence whether, in the end, a third set will be approved.

"They have to continue it with shame," Larijani said of the insistence of the Security Council five plus Germany in pursuing a third round of sanctions.

"It is a stubborn approach with no logic, which can have its impacts on our relations with IAEA."

Larijani, who is running in Iranian parliamentary elections next month, told the FT: "Parliament is where you can control, ask questions, get information and make changes."

Stressing the importance of the coming elections and the parliament it would elect, he added: "The international situation is in transition and our country is important in the region. Iran can play a role."

earlier related report
IAEA declines comment on Iran nuclear weapons claims
The UN atomic watchdog said Wednesday it was aware of claims by an exiled Iranian opposition group that Tehran had an operational nuclear-warhead development site, but declined to comment on the information.

"We are aware of this, but have no comment at this point in time," said Melissa Fleming, a spokeswoman for the Vienna-based International Atomic Energy Agency.

"As with all new information coming our way, our analysts take a serious look and decide whether it would warrant a follow-up," Fleming added.

According to the exiled National Council of Resistance of Iran, Tehran is actively pursuing a nuclear weapons programme, despite a recent US intelligence report which had said that Iran had abandoned such a programme in 2003.

A senior member of the group, Mohammad Mohadessin, presented reporters in Brussels with information he said had been collected on two sites in Iran on top secret studies on nuclear warheads.

Mohadessin said the site at Khojir, in a Tehran suburb, was an Iranian defence ministry missile-research site which is developing a nuclear warhead for medium-range missiles.

He described the other facility, in another Tehran suburb, as the "command and control centre" for production of a nuclear bomb.

This is not the first time the group has claimed to have information about Iran's alleged nuclear programme.

Its latest declaration comes just days before the latest assessment on Iran's disputed atomic drive by IAEA chief Mohammed ElBaradei.

ElBaradei's report, which diplomats in Vienna said could be released as early as Friday, will be crucial for the UN Security Council in deciding whether to slap further sanctions on Iran in the long-running nuclear stand-off.

The claims run counter to a US intelligence report released in December which said Iran halted its nuclear weapons programme in 2003.

That US report led to calls from Tehran, and some other quarters, for UN sanctions against the Iranian regime to be dropped.

"The Iranian regime is undoubtedly developing a nuclear bomb," Mohadessin said, adding that the information had been handed over to the IAEA on Tuesday.