IAEA Publishes NAM Support for Iran

TEHRAN (FNA)- The IAEA has published a document from the Non-Aligned Movement which expresses support for Iran’s nuclear program.

The statement has been published as an Information Circular (INFCIRC). INFCIRCs are published by the IAEA to bring matters of general interest to the attention of its member states.

Iran sent the document to the IAEA in its capacity as host nation of the 15th NAM meeting held in Tehran in July.

According to press tv, the statement voices the support of more than 100 countries for Iran’s right to peaceful nuclear technology.

Iran’s Ambassador to the IAEA Ali Asghar Soltaniyeh said the support of the NAM member states in the statement showed the US was mistaken about Iran’s nuclear activities.

Washington and its Western allies accuse Iran of trying to develop nuclear weapons under the cover of a civilian nuclear program, while they have never presented any corroborative document to substantiate their allegations. Iran denies the charges and insists that its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes only.

Tehran stresses that the country has always pursued a civilian path to provide power to the growing number of Iranian population, whose fossil fuel would eventually run dry.

Despite the rules enshrined in the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) entitling every member state, including Iran, to the right of uranium enrichment, Tehran is now under three rounds of UN Security Council sanctions for turning down West’s illegitimate calls to give up its right of uranium enrichment.

Tehran has dismisses West’s demands as politically tainted and illogical, stressing that sanctions and pressures merely consolidate Iranians’ national resolve to continue the path.

Iran has also insisted that it would continue enriching uranium because it needs to provide fuel to a 300-megawatt light-water reactor it is building in the southwestern town of Darkhoveyn as well as its first nuclear power plant in the southern port city of Bushehr.

Iran is still cooperating with the IAEA despite threats of further sanctions over its nuclear program.

The 15th Ministerial Meeting of the Non-Aligned Movement, held from 27 to 30 July 2008, issued a declaration which addressed a range of issues aimed at promoting world peace and human rights.

The NAM, comprising 118 countries, is an international organization of states considering themselves not formally aligned with or against any major power bloc. It represents nearly two-thirds of the UN members.