Aqazadeh reaffirms Iran's commitment to NPT

IRNA:

Vienna, Sept 21

Iran's Vice-President and head of the Atomic Energy Organization (IAEO) Gholamreza Aqazadeh on Wednesday reaffirmed Iran's commitment to Non-Proliferation Treaty and said that Iran does not consider to quit NPT.

Talking to reporters after his meeting with members of Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) in the Board of Governors of International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), he said that Iran would not opt out of NPT.

He said his meeting with some of IAEA member states including NAM group was helpful to enlighten them about Iranian nuclear program in the context of the NPT.

"I made it clear during the meeting with IAEA member states that Iran would not quit NPT and that Tehran abides by its commitments to the treaty." Aqazadeh said he briefed IAEA member states on outcome of meetings of Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) Ali Larijani with the foreign ministers of the European trio and European Union Foreign Policy chief Javier Solana which took place in New York earlier this week.

He said he felt his explanation was necessary to enlighten the member states involved in decision making process of IAEA Board of Governors.

Aqazadeh is to meet the IAEA Director General Mohamed ElBaradei today.

In an exclusive interview with IRNA, the Vice-President described as useful his meeting with NAM members of the IAEA Board of Governors.

The official said he outlined the highlights of the new nuclear initiative proposed by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad at the World Summit reassuring civilian nature of Iranian nuclear program.

Aqazadeh arrived here Tuesday to attend the general conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) that will be held after the meeting of the Agency's Board of Governors.

Aqazadeh is to brief the Vienna-based diplomats and the IAEA general conference on President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's initiative to end the country's nuclear standoff with European states.

The IAEA general conference will be held here next Monday.

In his second address to the UN General Assembly meeting in New York, President Ahmadinejad offered his four-point plan for settlement of Iran's nuclear crisis.

The president said that Iranian nuclear program is transparent and cameras of UN specialized Agency are installed on all nuclear sites in Iran.

He also offered to launch fuel cycle to produce fuel for power plants through joint venture with private or state sectors of European countries.

The President said in the UN General Assembly that Islam bans nuclear arms and Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei has declared production of nuclear arms as (Haram): "forbidden".