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TEHRAN, Sept. 16 (Xinhuanet) -- Iranian President Mahmoud
Ahmadinejad has lashed out at some countries for violating nuclear conventions
themselves but raising accusations on Iran's nuclear program, the official IRNA
news agency reported on Friday.
"Countries violating nuclear safeguards are not competent to
comment on other states' peaceful nuclear program," Ahmadinejad was quoted as
speaking to the press on the sidelines of a UN summit in New York on
Thursday.
"Disarmament and non-proliferation of nuclear weapons" were the
most important contents of the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), he said.
"A country, which possesses the biggest nuclear arsenal, embarks
on proliferation of nuclear weapons in defiance of the safeguards (of NPT) and
threatens to use them against others, is not competent to comment on peaceful
use of nuclear know-how by other states," Ahmadinejad said.
He stressed that instead of raising any claims on others, such
countries should be brought under the supervision of the International Atomic
Energy Agency (IAEA) and must be accountable for what it had done.
Reaffirming Iran's determination to use nuclear technology,
Ahmadinejad said that it had been well-known that fossil fuel reserves were
depleting.
"As a developing state, Iran should speedily increase its
investment in different energy-related sectors. The United States, despite
having giant fossil fuel reserves, has made considerable amount of investment in
the nuclear energy field," Ahmadinejad said.
Ahmadinejad termed pressure on Iran to abandon nuclear fuel
cycle work as "unreasonable and unacceptable dual approach" which considers the
use of nuclear energy good for some states and bad for certain other states.
"The present era marks the era of awakening of public opinion
and the implementation of the will and wishes of nations. The era of bullying
and resorting to force is passing away because it is the resolve of nations that
has the last say," the president said.
Ahmadinejad, who arrived in New York on Tuesday to attend the
summit, has announced that he will present a new initiative to solve the Iranian
nuclear standoff.
Iran is currently under the pressure of the European Union (EU)
to re-suspend its uranium conversion activities before Sept. 19, when the IAEA
Board of Governors will gather for a conference.
Tehran resumed conversion activities on Aug. 8 and rejected a EU
nuclear proposal.
The EU, the broker of the Iranian nuclear issue for two years,
has been trying but in vain to dissuade Iran from its efforts to build nuclear
fuel cycles, including all activities related to uranium enrichment.
The United States accuses Iran of developing nuclear weapons
under the disguise of civil usage, a charge rejected by
Tehran. Enditem |