Iran Says It Will Share Nuclear Skills
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By NAZILA FATHI
Published: April 25, 2006
TEHRAN, April 25-Iran's supreme leader said today in a meeting with
the Sudanese president that Iran was ready to share its nuclear
technology with other countries.
"Iran's nuclear capability is one example of various scientific
capabilities in the country. The Islamic Republic of Iran is prepared
to transfer the experience, knowledge and technology of its
scientists," said the supreme religious leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei,
to President Omar al-Bashir of Sudan, IRNA news agency reported.
Mr. Khamenei's comments to the leader of Sudan, one of the most
unstable countries in Africa, came a few days ahead of the Friday
deadline by the United Nations Security Council for Iran to suspend its
sensitive uranium enrichment activities.
At a conference on its nuclear program in Tehran today, senior
officials rejected the demand and vowed that Iran will continue its
enrichment activities.
Iran's chief nuclear negotiator, Ali Larijani, said that if the
Security Council imposed sanctions, Iran will suspend its cooperation
with the United Nations nuclear agency, and any military strike aimed
at destroying its enrichment facilities will lead Iran to hide its
program.
"If you decide to use sanction against us, our relation with the agency
will be suspended," Mr. Larijani said. "Military action against Iran
will not lead to the closure of the program," he added. "If you take
harsh measures, we will hide this program. Then you cannot solve the
nuclear issue."
"You may inflict a loss on us but you will lose also," he warned.
Mr. Larijani said that Iran is willing to cooperate if its case is
returned to the International Atomic Energy Agency. "But do not expect
us to act otherwise if you drag the case to the Security Council," he
added.
Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, a senior cleric and chairman of the
powerful Expediency Council, denounced the role of the nuclear agency
at the conference and said the I.A.E.A. has failed to support Iran's
program.
"I am not saying that the agency has had bad intentions," he said. "But
it has not fulfilled its duty to support countries to enjoy their right
to have nuclear technology," he added.
The head of Iran's atomic organization, Gholamreza Aghazadeh, left
Tehran for the I.A.E.A.'s headquarters in Vienna today, ISNA news
agency reported.
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