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No basis for further sanctions, says Iran

DUBAI: Iran is seeking the return of its nuclear file to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) from the United Nations Security Council following the agency’s latest report on its atomic programme.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad described the IAEA findings as a “historic victory” for Iran. In a message to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei, Mr. Ahmadinejad was quoted by state television as saying: “I congratulate Your Eminence and the Iranian people on the historic victory of Iran in its greatest confrontation with the oppressive powers since the Islamic revolution” of 1979.

In an 11-page report released on Friday, IAEA chief Mohamed ElBaradei said, “the agency had made good progress in clarifying the outstanding issues that had to do with Iran’s past nuclear activities.” With regard to Iran’s current nuclear activities, his report observed, “With the exception of the issue of the alleged studies, which remains outstanding, the Agency has no concrete information about possible current undeclared nuclear material and activities in Iran.”

The “alleged studies” relate to “the green salt project, high explosives testing and the missile re-entry vehicle.”

However, the IAEA noted that it “has not detected the use of nuclear material in connection with the alleged studies, nor does it have credible information in this regard.”

The Agency asked Iran to accept the “Additional Protocol” that would allow IAEA monitors to hold surprise inspection of suspect facilities. It also sought more details on the alleged studies that would enable it to furnish “credible assurances about the absence of undeclared nuclear material and activities in Iran.”

Iran has agreed to accept the Additional Protocol if its nuclear file is returned from the Security Council to the IAEA. Iran’s First Vice-President Parviz Davoudi said on Sunday that Iran’s nuclear file should now be returned to the IAEA from the Security Council.

Officials from the five permanent members of the Security Council and Germany are expected to meet in Washington on Monday to study the draft.

Dismissing the threat of additional sanctions, Mr. Ahmadinejad said, “If they [Security Council permanent members and Germany] want to continue with that path of sanctions, we will not be harmed. They can issue resolutions for 100 years.”

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