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ACCORDING TO IRANIAN DEPUTY AMBASSADOR TO ARMENIA, PROBLEM RELATED TO IRAN'S NUCLEAR PROGRAM IS PURELY POLITICAL ONE
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Apr 03 2006
YEREVAN, APRIL 3, NOYAN TAPAN - ARMENIANS TODAY. A discussion on
the problem of Iran's nuclear program was held on April 3 at the
Noravank Scientific and Educational Fund. Ali Akbar Jouhar, Iran's
Deputy Ambassador to Armenia, who had expressed an intention to
discuss the matter with Armenian analysts, made a speech during
the discussian. Speaking about the UN Security Counci's recent
decision regarding the nuclear program of Iran, the deputy ambassador
stated that the problem is a purely political rather than a legal
or technical one. According to Ali Akbar Jouhar, Iran officially
declared that thanks to its scientists, it has received an opportunity
to obtain nuclear energy. In his words, Iran has such a right, since
it joined the Non Proliferation Treaty (NTP) and has honored all its
commitments. Many other countries which, unlike Iran, are not members
of the NPT and did not assume any commitments, are implementing
nuclear programs. Particularly, Israel has over 200 war-heads,
however, according to the speaker, nobody pays attention to it. The
US and a number of Western states believe that Iran does not need
nuclear energy because it has large oil and gas resources. According
to the deputy ambassador, a powerful nuclear plant was to be build
in Iran under an agreement reached with Western countries prior to
the Islamic revolution. "How is it that 30 years ago Iran with its
35 mln polulation was in need of nuclear energy, whereas Iran with
a population of over 70 mln and its developing production does not
need it?" the speaker underlined. He noted that the West expresses
suspicions about Iran's intentions, as Iran at first did not report its
actions. There is concern that in case of continuation of its nuclear
program, Iran will make a nuclear weapon. He pointed out that in the
last 27 years, no country has come under Iran's attacks or threats,
while Iran has been repeatedly subjected to aggression. Iran is
situated in the center of a region, in which crises have constantly
occured over the last 25 years, and, as the speaker put it, if it
is not for Iran, these crises would have spread now not only in the
region but also in the world. Therefore, the deputy ambassador noted,
both the international community and the region would benefit from
the existence of a powerful Iran, and vice versa, Iran's weakening is
fraught with unpredictable consequences. Ali Akbar Jouhar said that
Taliban and Al Qaeda were created by the West itself, while today it
is Iran that is being suspected of terrorism. He noted that Iran,
which was subjected to Taliban's aggression, provided the greatest
help to Afghanistan. Iran also assisted Iraq with its democratization
process. The fact that Iran is trying to support the peoples of
these countries, according to the deputy ambassador, is presented
as terrorism. He noted that the key issue related to Iran's nuclear
program is that the West does not want any developing country to get an
opportunity to obtain nuclear energy on its own. He said that Armenia,
as well as other developing countries, which attach great importance
to the development of high technolgies, may later encounter this
problem faced by Iran. The deputy ambassador stated that Iran has
fully honored its international commitment by carrying out nuclear
work under the control of the International Atomic Energy Agency and
is determined to continue this work regarding the issue of its right.
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Apr 03 2006
YEREVAN, APRIL 3, NOYAN TAPAN - ARMENIANS TODAY. A discussion on
the problem of Iran's nuclear program was held on April 3 at the
Noravank Scientific and Educational Fund. Ali Akbar Jouhar, Iran's
Deputy Ambassador to Armenia, who had expressed an intention to
discuss the matter with Armenian analysts, made a speech during
the discussian. Speaking about the UN Security Counci's recent
decision regarding the nuclear program of Iran, the deputy ambassador
stated that the problem is a purely political rather than a legal
or technical one. According to Ali Akbar Jouhar, Iran officially
declared that thanks to its scientists, it has received an opportunity
to obtain nuclear energy. In his words, Iran has such a right, since
it joined the Non Proliferation Treaty (NTP) and has honored all its
commitments. Many other countries which, unlike Iran, are not members
of the NPT and did not assume any commitments, are implementing
nuclear programs. Particularly, Israel has over 200 war-heads,
however, according to the speaker, nobody pays attention to it. The
US and a number of Western states believe that Iran does not need
nuclear energy because it has large oil and gas resources. According
to the deputy ambassador, a powerful nuclear plant was to be build
in Iran under an agreement reached with Western countries prior to
the Islamic revolution. "How is it that 30 years ago Iran with its
35 mln polulation was in need of nuclear energy, whereas Iran with
a population of over 70 mln and its developing production does not
need it?" the speaker underlined. He noted that the West expresses
suspicions about Iran's intentions, as Iran at first did not report its
actions. There is concern that in case of continuation of its nuclear
program, Iran will make a nuclear weapon. He pointed out that in the
last 27 years, no country has come under Iran's attacks or threats,
while Iran has been repeatedly subjected to aggression. Iran is
situated in the center of a region, in which crises have constantly
occured over the last 25 years, and, as the speaker put it, if it
is not for Iran, these crises would have spread now not only in the
region but also in the world. Therefore, the deputy ambassador noted,
both the international community and the region would benefit from
the existence of a powerful Iran, and vice versa, Iran's weakening is
fraught with unpredictable consequences. Ali Akbar Jouhar said that
Taliban and Al Qaeda were created by the West itself, while today it
is Iran that is being suspected of terrorism. He noted that Iran,
which was subjected to Taliban's aggression, provided the greatest
help to Afghanistan. Iran also assisted Iraq with its democratization
process. The fact that Iran is trying to support the peoples of
these countries, according to the deputy ambassador, is presented
as terrorism. He noted that the key issue related to Iran's nuclear
program is that the West does not want any developing country to get an
opportunity to obtain nuclear energy on its own. He said that Armenia,
as well as other developing countries, which attach great importance
to the development of high technolgies, may later encounter this
problem faced by Iran. The deputy ambassador stated that Iran has
fully honored its international commitment by carrying out nuclear
work under the control of the International Atomic Energy Agency and
is determined to continue this work regarding the issue of its right.