AP: The Council of Europe called Tuesday on Iran to abide by the nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty and fully cooperate with the U.N. nuclear watchdog agency. In a resolution adopted three days before Iran is to restart its talks with Germany, Britain and France on its nuclear programs, the Council urged Iranian authorities to allow free access to the country’s nuclear sites and research facilities, but also said Tehran should be … Associated Press
STRASBOURG, France – The Council of Europe called Tuesday on Iran to abide by the nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty and fully cooperate with the U.N. nuclear watchdog agency.
In a resolution adopted three days before Iran is to restart its talks with Germany, Britain and France on its nuclear programs, the Council urged Iranian authorities to allow free access to the country’s nuclear sites and research facilities, but also said Tehran should be assured by the international community that its legitimate security concerns would be addressed.
“Moreover, Iran should be assured that the readiness to meet the … concerns about its nuclear program would open new possibilities for international cooperation,” the European human rights body said.
Earlier this week, Iran said it would resume uranium enrichment regardless of what comes out of its negotiations with France, German and Britain, which are to restart April 29.
The three European countries are seeking guarantees Iran won’t use its nuclear program to make weapons, as Washington suspects. Tehran insists the program, kept secret for two decades, is only for peaceful purposes.
The United States, backed by Israel, believes Iran is using a civilian nuclear development program as a cover to make atomic weapons. It has threatened to refer Iran to the U.N. Security Council, which can impose sanctions, but has held off pending the negotiations with the Europeans.
The Europeans have also called on Iran to abandon enrichment, a process that can produce fuel for nuclear reactors and, taken to a higher level, material for bombs.
Iran insists its nuclear program is entirely for the generation of electricity and has offered to provide safeguards of its good intentions.
The Nonproliferation Treaty obligates the five acknowledged nuclear weapon states _ the United States, Russia, Britain, China and France _ not to transfer nuclear weapons or technology to non-nuclear weapon states, which in turn agree not to acquire or produce nuclear weapons.
Iran argues it enjoys the right under the Nonproliferation Treaty _ like other signatory nations _ to enrich uranium for use in civilian power production.
