Iran
should be treated like India on nuke issues: Soltanieh
Dubai,
Aug 2 (UNI) Accusing the international community of double
standards on nuclear policy, Iran has said it too should be
treated like India.
The
Iranian ambassador to the International Atomic Energy Agency
(IAEA), Dr Ali Asghar Soltanieh said Iran was bothered by
the double standards regarding nuclear activities and demanded
that his country should also be treated like India.
Referring
to the IAEA Board of Governors yesterday adopting the India-specific
safeguards by consensus, he said, ''After this event we will
raise our own expectations higher than before so that they
put an end to this restrictive statute in the IAEA and the
United Nations Security Council.'' ''We have everything in
the IAEA and the safeguards should routinised for all. Iran
should be dealt with like any other country,'' he said adding
that Iran is committed to the international organisations
and the NPT. We cannot henceforth tolerate any restrictive
statute.
Noting
that Iran has been a member of the NPT, while India is a non-signatory
to it he said, ''Iran has always supported its family member
of the Non-Aligned Movement. We will be happy if everyday
we witness India's progress in different areas including the
nuclear energy.'' ''They are putting up some civilian facilities
under a safeguard regime like the US and other weapon states
and now India too is being included. This is while uranium
and plutonium enrichment used for nuclear weapons is outside
the control of the IAEA. Therefore, this is a serious question,''
he said.
''We
do not have a single paper for a legally binding instrument
to assure nuclear supply. Therefore, there is no assurance
and we have a confidence deficit for nuclear fueled reactors,''
Mr Soltanieh said.
In
spite of the IAEA decision on India, Iran will spare no effort
to keep its full commitment to the NPT and the IAEA rules,
he added.
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