Moscow to support sanctions against Iran in case of consensus

MOSCOW, December 1, 2009 (Itar-Tass) --

Russia will support sanctions against Iran if it reaches consensus with other countries, a Moscow diplomat told Itar-Tass on Tuesday.

“We do not want isolation. If everyone agrees on sanctions, we will not stay aside,” he said.

“We will start to consider [the sanctions]. This is not the question of several hours or even weeks, but we must make up our mind,” he noted.

“We will keep working [holding negotiations] and bear in mind the possibility [of sanctions] and their possible content,” he said.

Sanctions against Iran over nuclear issue not to work: president

    TEHRAN, Dec. 1, 2009,(Xinhua) --

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said on Tuesday that any sanctions against Iran over its nuclear issue will not work and the Islamic Republic can not be isolated.

    "We have a great economy inside Iran ... and sanctions are not such a big deal for Iran," Ahmadinejad said in a live TV interview late Tuesday.

    "They (the Western countries) need us more than we need them," Ahmadinejad said, adding "It is only a psychological warfare and it is impossible to isolate Iran."

    The Iranian president also lashed out at the recent resolution passed by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) board of governors on the Iran nuclear issue, saying that the resolution "has no legal basis."

    The IAEA board of governors passed a resolution during a meeting on Friday in Vienna, calling for the "full cooperation" of Iran to clarify all outstanding issues involving its nuclear program and requiring Iran to stop construction on the newly-disclosed Fordo uranium enrichment facility near the central Iranian city of Qom.

    On Sunday, the Iranian government ordered the country's Atomic Energy Organization to build 10 new uranium enrichment sites in defiance of the latest IAEA resolution.

    Ahmadinejad reiterated in his televised interview on Tuesday that the plan to build 10 new uranium enrichment plants in the country was not a "bluff" and Iran will fully pursue its announced projects.

    He also noted that Iran did not have to inform the UN nuclear watchdog about its plans to build the new nuclear sites "unless the technology is imported."

    The IAEA move was its first adoption of a resolution against Iran after the one adopted in February 2006. The 35-member IAEA board of governors passed the resolution with 25 yes votes, three votes by Cuba, Venezuela and Malaysia against, six abstentions and one absence.

    Russia was singled out by Ahmadinejad for criticism on Tuesday as Moscow was one of the 25 members of the IAEA board of governors who voted for the recent resolution on the Iran nuclear issue.

    "Russia made a mistake (in voting for the resolution) as it does not have an accurate analysis of the current situation in the world," Ahmadinejad said.

Editor: Yan

Speaker Lambasts Powers' Abnormal Attitude towards Iran

December 2, 2009

TEHRAN (FNA)-

Iranian Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani on Tuesday strongly criticized the abnormal and double-standard approach and policies of the Group 5+1 (the five permanent UN Security Council members plus Germany) towards Tehran's nuclear program.

"On one hand, these countries are expressing willingness to international order and diplomatic solutions, but on the other hand, they are defaming international institutions through their bullying behaviors," Larijani said, addressing a gathering of Iran's prominent figures held at the parliament complex here in Tehran today.

Larijani's remarks came days after the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Board of Governors passed an anti-Iran resolution on Friday, and demanded that Iran halt construction of a new uranium enrichment facility near the holy city of Qom, known as Fordo.

The move was the IAEA's first adoption of a resolution against Iran since February 2006.

Malaysia, the current president of the IAEA Board of Governors, Venezuela, and Cuba voted against, but 25 countries, including the G5+1 member states (the US, Russia, France, Britain, China and Germany), voted for the resolution and six countries abstained.

On Sunday, Larijani urged the world powers to drop their carrot and stick policy towards Iran, warning that Tehran could seriously decrease cooperation with the IAEA.

"Do not make the parliament and the Iranian nation choose another path and seriously decrease cooperation with the IAEA," Ali Larijani said at the time.

Russia should respond why it votes for IAEA resolution against Iran: spokesman

    TEHRAN, Dec. 1 (Xinhua) --

Iran's Foreign Ministry Tuesday said Russia's vote for the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) resolution against Iran last Friday raises question and it should respond why it gave the vote, the official IRNA news agency reported.

    Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast told reporters that Russia's positive vote to the recent "unjust resolution" of IAEA board of governors concerning Iran's "peaceful nuclear program" raises question.

    "We have had regular dialogues and consultations with the Russians on Iran's peaceful nuclear program and this country (Russia) is totally familiar with the legal and peaceful nature of these activities," Mehmanparast was quoted as saying.

    "This country (Russia) should respond to what the cause of this act was and it should be transparent and clear with its positions," he said.

    The IAEA board of governors passed a resolution during a meeting on Friday in Vienna, calling for the "full cooperation" of Iran to clarify all outstanding issues involving its nuclear program and requiring Iran to stop construction on the newly-disclosed Fordo uranium enrichment facility near the central Iranian city of Qom.

    The move was the IAEA's first adoption of a resolution against Iran after the one adopted in February 2006. The IAEA board of governors (with Russia involved) passed the resolution with 25 voting for, six abstentions, one absence while Cuba, Venezuela and Malaysia voting against.

    Following the adoption of the resolution, Iran's permanent representative to the IAEA Ali Soltanieh said Friday that Iran would not implement the resolution and dismissed it as a "disappointing" and "politically" motivated move.

    On Sunday, the Iranian government in a decree ordered the country's Atomic Energy Organization to build 10 new uranium enrichment sites in defiance of the latest IAEA resolution. 

Russia ready for sanctions on Iran if consensus reached

    MOSCOW, Dec. 1 (Xinhua) --

Russia will back sanctions against Iran over its controversial nuclear program if consensus is reached internationally, said a Russian unnamed diplomat source on Tuesday.

    "If there is a consensus on sanctions, Russia will not remain in isolation," said the source when commenting on Tehran's plans to build 10 new uranium enrichment facilities.

Editor: Yan

Iran protests to 25 members of IAEA board of governors for voting for resolution

    TEHRAN, Dec. 1 (Xinhua) --

Iran has officially protested to 25 members of the 35-member International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) board of governors who voted for a recent resolution on the Iranian nuclear issue, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast said Tuesday.

    "Iran has sent separate letters to all 35 members of the board, objecting the performance of the 25 members who voted for the anti-Iran resolution," the official IRNA news agency quoted Mehmanparast as saying.

    The IAEA board of governors passed a resolution during a meeting on Friday in Vienna, calling for the "full cooperation" of Iran to clarify all outstanding issues involving its nuclear program and requiring Iran to stop construction on the newly-disclosed Fordo uranium enrichment facility near the central Iranian city of Qom.

    The move was the IAEA's first adoption of a resolution against Iran after the one adopted in February 2006. The IAEA board of governors passed the resolution with 25 voting for, six abstentions, one absence while Cuba, Venezuela and Malaysia voting against.

    Following the adoption of the resolution, Iran's permanent representative to the IAEA Ali Soltanieh said Friday that Iran would not implement the resolution and dismissed it as a "disappointing" and "politically" motivated move.

    On Sunday, the Iranian government ordered the country's Atomic Energy Organization to build 10 new uranium enrichment sites in defiance of the latest IAEA resolution.

Editor: Xiong Tong

Iran's FM criticizes IAEA, voters against Iran

    TEHRAN, Nov. 30 (Xinhua) --

Iran's Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki on Monday criticized the recent International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) resolution against Iran as well as those countries who cast "unjust and discriminatory" votes against the country, the official IRNA news agency reported.

    "The recent resolution issued by the IAEA against Iran has weakened the international body," Mottaki was quoted as saying.

    "We hope these countries voting against Iran will review their attitude wisely," Mottaki made the remark in a press conference in Tehran.

    The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) board of governors passed a resolution during a meeting on Friday in Vienna, calling for the "full cooperation" of Iran to clarify all outstanding issues involving its nuclear program.

    It was reported that the resolution contained a strong call on Tehran to implement the relevant UN Security Council resolutions, as well as all the transparency measures the IAEA needed to restore confidence in the exclusively peaceful nature of Iran's nuclear program.

    "We have lauded Malaysia, Cuba and Venezuela for their brave votes and will also take into consideration those which abstained in the voting," said Mottaki.

    IAEA's Friday move was the first adoption of a resolution against Iran after the one adopted in February 2006. The 35-memberboard of governors of IAEA passed the resolution with 25 voting for, six abstentions, one absence while Cuba, Venezuela and Malaysia voting against.

    "We cannot tolerate discrimination in international relations under any circumstances," he said, adding that "if there is a right for every country in an international treaty or convention, it should be applied to all."

    Western powers suspected Iran of attempting to build nuclear weapons, but Tehran said its nuclear program was aimed at generating nuclear energy for civilian purposes.

Editor: Yan