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Iran opposed to monopoly in nuclear technology: ambassador to Indonesia

Iran Materials 29 November 2006 12:02 (UTC +04:00)

(IRNA) - Iranian Ambassador to Indonesia Behrouz Kamalvandi in Jakarta on Tuesday said Tehran will not accept a monopoly of nuclear technology by the West.

Kamalvandi made the remarks during a meeting of members of the Confederation of Association of South-East Asian Nation (ASEAN) Journalists (CAJ).

"All countries have the right to pursue scientific and technological knowledge including peaceful nuclear technology, reports Trend.

This right of states cannot be denied by certain hegemonic powers who wish to deprive certain nations of progress," he said.

"We are against a monopoly nuclear technology by certain countries," the envoy added.

"As per the articles of association of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), Safeguards Agreement and Additional Protocol, development of peaceful nuclear energy is not only perfectly legal but is also encouraged and supported," Kamalvandi said.

He said those four documents do not prohibit enrichment nor set limitations on it.

Unfortunately, he said, Iran's nuclear case has been politicized.

"But it is a national demand and all Iranians, even those living abroad, support it."

Iran has repeatedly said that it does want weapons of mass destruction. Production of these weapons runs counter to the principles of our foreign policy, he added.

"The Supreme Leader (Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei) has expressly banned it."

However, he said, "enrichment knowhow is Iran's inalienable right and it will not back down from this right."

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