Saturday, April 15, 2006

Iran invites neighbors to cooperate on nuclear energy

Arabic News


Iran's ambassador to Moscow today extended his country's invitation to other countries particularly neighboring states to give a hand in its nuclear projects. Gholam-Reza Ansari, who talked to Russia's RNTV channel, added such cooperation would make Iran's peaceful nuclear program more transparent for the world, proving it right.

Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has openly invited all countries to participate in the country's nuclear projects, boasted the envoy.

He said Ahmadinejad last Tuesday officially announced that the Iranian scientists had produced low-grade enriched uranium suitable for power stations, aiming to enlighten the world.

Ansari condemned the US threats against Iran, adding Tehran had opened the doors to the inspectors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

All nuclear activities in Iran had been in conformity with the IAEA's rules and even the country had announced its preparedness to have the Additional Protocol to the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) approved, he added.

The US invented such pretexts in a bid to divert the world's attention from Iraq developments, he noted.

Asked about Iran's readiness to confront possible military action by the US, the envoy said, "We are doing our best to prevent a crisis in the region. Readiness for war is one of the prerequisites to avoid the breakout of a war."

Commander of Islamic Revolution's Guards Corps (IRGC) Major General Yahya Rahim Safavi said here Friday any threat against Iran would endanger security of the whole region, US forces in particular.

"Iran's security is equal to the security of the whole region and in case any insecurity befalls on Iran it will cause insecurity for all, American forces in particular," the commander told reporters on the sidelines of the International Conference on the Holy Qods and Support for the Palestinian People.

Referring to the allocation by the US of $ 75 million for cultural inroad against Iran, the commander said, "Americans are well informed that those who get this money from them are much more willing to act against US if they are paid to."

Addressing US and British intelligence services active in Iraq and Kuwait, Safavi said "I tell them that their agents can be our agents, too and they should not waste their money so easily.

"I advise them (Western intelligence services) not to let Iraq turn into another Vietnam," Stressed the commander.

Referring to the recent comments of US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice who has said US would push for using force and economic sanctions against Iran during the next session of the United Nations Security Council, Safavi said "We are prepared for different scenarios."

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