Iran press backs nuclear stance

BBC:

7 August 2005

Iranian newspapers have broadly welcomed Tehran's rejection of the latest EU proposal on the country's nuclear ambitions.

A reformist paper warns that any further toughening of the stance could be counter-productive, while more conservative outlets appear suspicious of the EU's motives.

SHARQ - reformist

Impetuosity, policies of non-co-operation and unilateral decisions instead of agreement and negotiations, especially by new and inexperienced administration figures, will add fuel to the fire of the crisis... Further changes in Iran's foreign policy would increase external pressures and endanger Iran's national security.

IRAN NEWS - moderate

The [EU] incentives look positive, but the point is that the Europeans are bent on bringing Iran's uranium conversion and enrichment processes to a halt... One could be optimistic about the Europeans' recognition of Iran's right to peaceful nuclear technology, but the question is why they have pushed the Islamic republic to regain its sovereign rights through non-diplomatic means up to now... The proposals look alluring, but they are deceitful.

RESALAT - conservative

The Europeans should review their policies on the nuclear issue. Threatening to send the Iran dossier to the UN Security Council will not give them any headway. On the contrary, it will create further negative side-effects in Tehran-Europe relations and prove the Europeans' weakness.

JOMHURI-YE ESLAMI - hardline conservative

The cornerstone of the Europeans' proposal is a cessation of uranium enrichment. Their proposal is an empty box wrapped in a beautiful cover. If Iran agrees to stop enrichment, it will be deprived of the nuclear fuel cycle for ever, and it would be an everlasting disgrace for Iran.

SIYASAT-E-RUZ - hardline

The Europeans' time is over; the Europeans have not fulfilled Iran's demands... Iran has to reassess its policy of negotiating with the Europeans, continue its talks with the IAEA and resume its nuclear activities as soon as possible.

KAYHAN - hardline conservative

You may be shocked to hear this news, but Iran is not a signatory to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), and the IAEA is not allowed to inspect Iran's nuclear sites. The Iranian government agreed in 1997 to extend its membership of the NPT - but government agreement was not enough and it needed to be ratified in the Majlis, but it was not. Thus, undoubtedly, Iran's pledges under the NPT came to an end in 1997.