TEHRAN, Oct. 16 (Xinhuanet) -- Iran criticized the European Unionon Sunday for misinterpreting an agreement to pave the way for talks on Iran's controversial nuclear program.
"The EU has misinterpreted the Paris Agreement from a unilateral perspective," Foreign Ministry spokesman Hamid-Reza Asefi told reporters.
Under the Paris agreement in October 2004 between Iran and Britain, France and Germany which represent the EU in nuclear talks with Tehran, Iran suspended all uranium enrichment related activities as temporary and voluntary confidence-building gesture.
However, the EU cancelled the talks after Iran resumed uranium conversion work on August 8 despite of the EU threat to refer Iran's case to the United Nations Security Council.
The board of governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), UN's nuclear watchdog, adopted a EU-drafted resolution on Sept. 24 in Vienna, charging Tehran with breach of international nuclear safeguard.
Iran has warned it would resume uranium enrichment and bar snap inspections of its nuclear sites if the IAEA did not change the resolution.
"Iran will not be intimidated by the threat of referral. The prospect will depend on the IAEA and the EU," Asefi added.
Last week, Iran voiced its will to resume nuclear negotiations with the EU trio and other countries without any preconditions.
The United States accuses Iran of developing nuclear weapons under the disguise of a civilian program, but Tehran rejects thecharge, saying it will never give up its legal right to peaceful nuclear technology. Enditem |