HYDERABAD: Iran's Vice-President Rahim Moshaie said Iran would consider if Russia or China came forward to cooperate with his country in its peaceful nuclear programme and asserted that it was not for making any weapon of mass destruction.

Addressing a press conference here on Tuesday, he said Iran was ready to work with international bodies on its nuclear programme and its doors would be open for any country. "What more do you want to prove that it is only for peaceful purposes," he asked.

The international agencies, working in Iran for the past three years, could not prove that nuclear technology was diverted for any other purpose.

"We don't want anything for the purpose of destruction. Our principles, our religion do not permit anything which will prove to be destructive," he added. The fact was that Iran was never after producing nuclear weapons and weapons of mass destruction. The Government and the people of Iran would not, at any cost, stop the technology and research for its peaceful nuclear programme.

"Powerful countries liars"

"We are willing to cooperate at any cost, anywhere and any field. We want to prove that the powerful countries are liars. Their aim is something else," Mr. Moshaie said.

A few countries with "vested interests" were pressurising Iran, he said and asked countries that voted against it had any genuine reason to do so.

He accused the U.S. of playing with Europe and hoped European nations would understand its "game plan." Mr. Moshaie said he did not expect any compromise to be arrived at the meeting of the foreign ministers of U.N. Security Council's permanent members and Germany in Berlin on Thursday.

He said Prime Minister Manmohan Singh assured him that India would be against anything that was against Iran's interests. Asked about the statement of Iranian President Ahmedinejad that Israel should be wiped off the map, he said Western media wrongly interpreted it.

Mr. Ahmedinejad wanted to say that people living in the occupied land should be given the opportunity to choose their type of Government.

He said Iran would never accept the existence of Israel.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail