Madam, - Rory Miller's article of September 28th "Consensus approach needed on Iran's nuclear programme" require some clarification.
1. For humane and religious reasons, attaining nuclear weapons have never been in the defence and security doctrine of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Iran is among the countries that not only has signed and remained committed to the NPT from the very beginning; but also as a goodwill and confidence-building gesture has signed the Additional Protocol and has enforced it even before its ratification by the parliament. The doors in Iran have always been open to the inspectors of IAEA and the authorities have responsibly accounted for all of their activities.
2. The nuclear activities of Iran have been fully peaceful and consistent with its commitments under the Nuclear Proliferation Treaty and its provisions. The IAEA reports, especially the recent one which was based on the verifying missions of the agency's inspectors, prove this claim. But, regrettably, this notion has always been underscored due to certain political motives.
3. While defending its legitimate right under NPT for peaceful nuclear activities, Iran is fully prepared to give necessary guarantees to eliminate the international concerns, in the frame of the regulations of this Treaty and through constructive dialogue, not threat. (This was in fact the approach which was mutually adopted a year ago with the EU, especially France, Germany and Britain).
4. Ignoring the legitimate rights of Iran, non-adherence of the nuclear powers to their responsibilities and commitments and discriminatory and double standard are the biggest threat to the credibility of NPT. Mr Elbaradei's emphasis on the intolerability of double standards among nuclear and non-nuclear countries and the criticism of the seven Foreign Ministers including Mr Cowen, on the non-adherence of the nuclear powers to their commitments in the frame of NPT further underline this reality. International confidence can only be established and maintained through a multilateral action and confidence building measures practised by all sides.
5. Iran has always called for a durable and just peace and stability in the crisis-afflicted region of the Middle East. From its inception, Iran has never invaded or had aggressive intentions against any country. It has always advocated the idea of the Middle East as a nuclear-free region. Victimised by terrorism and enduring various forms of aggression after its Revolution, Iran condemns all forms of terrorism and calls for international cooperation to fight against this ominous phenomenon. The main source of insecurity, threat and crisis in the region, found out in an opinion poll conducted by the European Commission, has not signed NPT and the Additional Protocol and is left free to build up a nuclear arsenal. - Yours, etc.,
SOUDABEH BAHREINI,
Culture & Press Officer,
Embassy of Iran,
Blackrock,
Co Dublin.