(IRNA) - Iranian Ambassador to Cuba Ahmad Edrissian in Havana on Monday expressed confidence the Iran nuclear issue would be settled through negotiations and not through decisions or resolutions of the UN Security Council.
Edrissian was speaking in an interview with the Cuban daily Granma on the subject of Iran's peaceful nuclear activities.
"Our country has not attacked any state in the past 200 years nor at any time in the modern history of the region. Iran has never intended to produce nuclear weapons but will defend its right to produce nuclear energy for peaceful purposes," he said.
He said Iran is "currently conducting peaceful nuclear activities and call for talks and respect in this regard."
He added that Iran is a signatory to the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and as such all nuclear activities of the country have been carried out under the surveillance of the international nuclear watchdog (IAEA) and within the framework of NPT rules and regulations, reports Trend.
The ambassador said Iran's growing population justifies its need to produce nuclear energy.
Edrissian also expressed Iran's decision to promote ties with Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) states particularly Cuba, which currently holds the NAM rotating chair.