Europe behavior key to Iran future decision: Asefi

IRNA:

Sunday August 14, 2005

Foreign Ministry Spokesman Hamid-Reza Asefi here Sunday said the the Europeans' behavior in the upcoming days will play a determining role in Iran's future decisions including resumption of nuclear work at Natanz power plant, Isfahan province, central Iran.

Addressing domestic and foreign reporters at his weekly press conference, Asefi underlined suspension of nuclear activities at Isfahan's Uranium Conversion Facility (UCF) is not on agenda at all.

"The resolution issued by the Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency was illegal and politically motivated. It is unacceptable," he added. He dismissed unreasonable and irrelevant some cases in the resolution.

Referring to some, the spokesman said the board has put Iran's dossier on agenda and urged the country to stop work at the UCF.

In response to a question about the non-aligned states' role, Asefi said, "The Non-Aligned Movement states showed their dissatisfaction over the resolution by their belated approval.

"They made little changes and minor reforms. This is their weight and ability." Asked whether Iran withdraws from the Tehran Declaration and the Paris Agreement, the spokesman said, "The Islamic Republic does not make decisions hastily. All decisions are made logically and thoughtfully.

"To us, the Tehran Declaration and Paris Agreement are valid. We are ready to negotiate with the Europeans with no preconditions.

"The Europeans should consult whether they are able to settle the problem or not." Shifting to recent remarks of the US President George Bush, who did not rule out an attack on Iran, Asefi said, "Bush should know if the US makes such a mistake, we enjoy more defensive options." Asked about recent clashes in northwestern parts of the country between Kurd and Arab minorities, the spokesman said, "We have information that the United States is interfering in the western part of the country. That is unacceptable and we are going to protest."