“If Iran’s implementation of the additional protocol continues to serve as a means for western countries to abuse the country’s right to nuclear technology rather than to build confidence on our nuclear program, it will certainly be stopped,” MP Kazem Jalali told the Mehr News Agency.
Jalali, the spokesman of the Majlis National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, said that during the emergency session MPs expressed regret over Europe’s failure to live up to its commitments toward Iran as well its submission to the Unites States’ hostile stances toward the Islamic Republic.
“Members of the committee believe Iran should continue with the process of the nuclear negotiations and adopt a transparent nuclear approach.
“However, if Western countries try to deprive Iran from its rights through political pressure a proper decision should be made, which may include prohibiting further inspections or preventing the implementation of the additional protocol.”
Jalali noted that the Majlis has not yet approved the protocol and implementation of it is voluntary act which is not legally binding.
The additional protocol allows for intensive and surprise investigation of Iran’s nuclear sites.
He added that in the emergency session on Monday afternoon the latest nuclear developments including the results of the recent talks between Ali Larijani, the secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, with Mohammad ElBaradei, the director general of International Atomic Energy Agency, in Vienna, as well as the Majlis Security Committee chairman Alaedin Borujderid’s visit to Algiers were discussed.
Jalali noted that the Majlis expects the IAEA Board of Governors to recognize Iran’s right to develop nuclear technology for peaceful purposes since Iran abides by its commitments as an NPT signatory and the agency has also confirmed Iran’s remarks about the foreign origin of uranium contamination found in Iran.
He added that the emergency session will continue to be held over the next few days.
Russia opposes reporting Iran to Security Council
Russia said on Monday it opposed reporting Iran to the UN Security Council over its nuclear program, putting itself on a collision course with the United States in a global body where Moscow holds a veto, Reuters reported.
U.S. and European Union officials have warned they will push for Iran's nuclear case to be sent to the Security Council -- which could impose sanctions -- if Tehran does not halt all nuclear fuel work and resume negotiations with the EU.
"In these circumstances we see no reason why the question should be sent to the UN (Security Council)," the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement on its Web site www.mid.ru.
Russia, which has built a nuclear power plant for Iran and sees Tehran as a key ally in the Middle East, is a permanent member of the Council and can use its veto power to block any move against Iran. The remaining four members with a veto are the United States, Britain, China and France.
The West has criticized Russia for developing nuclear ties with Iran.
Iran denies having secret plans to make atomic bombs. But it infuriated the West by resuming uranium conversion last month at a plant in Isfahan, which led EU officials to threaten Security Council referral.
Russia, while calling on Iran to halt uranium conversion and improve ties with the UN nuclear watchdog, has long warned against using force to stop Tehran's nuclear program and called for diplomatic ways to resolve the stand-off.
"There are a number of questions related to Iran's past nuclear activities which need an additional investigation by the (International Atomic Energy) Agency together with the Iranian side," the foreign ministry said.
The report by IAEA chief Mohamed ElBaradei, circulated to diplomats on Friday, said the agency was still not able to say Iran did not have secret nuclear materials or activities. The IAEA board is due to meet on Sept. 19 to discuss Iran.
"We expect the Sept. 19 session of the IAEA board of governors to thoroughly discuss the report and outline further steps aimed at solving the remaining questions," the Foreign Ministry said.
Iran says it has answered almost all the UN nuclear watchdog's outstanding questions about its nuclear program and that nothing has been uncovered that would justify sending Tehran to the Security Council.
Would-be German FM opposes UN action on Iran
Germany's most likely next foreign minister said on Monday that Iran should not be referred to the Security Council for punitive action despite having defied the West by resuming nuclear work.
Wolfgang Gerhardt, foreign policy spokesman for Germany's opposition Free Democrats (FDP), said the European Union's three biggest powers -- Britain, France and Germany -- should first try to revive talks with Tehran.
"I think that the Iran negotiations are not yet a topic for the Security Council, rather the negotiations should be revived," said Gerhardt, who is expected to become foreign minister if Angela Merkel's conservatives win the Sept. 18 election and form a coalition with the FDP.
"The British attempt in the EU presidency to say that we have no alternative but to try again with negotiations is correct," Gerhardt told reporters, insisting his position on Iran was no different from the current German government's.
Merkel's conservative Christian Democrats (CDU) are ahead of Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder's Social Democrats by 12-14 points in recent public opinion polls.
A German Foreign Ministry spokesman declined on Monday to comment on Berlin's position ahead of the Sept. 19 meeting, but added Iran had clearly not respected the IAEA board's last appeal for it to suspend uranium processing.
The IAEA's 35-member board of governors meets on Sept. 19, when it will discuss whether Iran's case should be sent to the Security Council.
Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman said on Sunday that such threats would not persuade it to abandon its peaceful nuclear energy program.
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