Iran won’t respect NPT if nuke rights denied – Rohani

Reuters: Iran warned on Thursday it would no longer respect the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) if it was denied the right to pursue what it considers its right to develop a full civilian nuclear energy programme. “If Iran cannot use its legitimate rights in the framework of the NPT, it will no longer have respect for the treaty,” the semi-official ISNA students news agency quoted chief nuclear negotiator Hassan Rohani as telling visiting Russian deputy foreign minister Sergei Kislyak. Reuters

TEHRAN – Iran warned on Thursday it would no longer respect the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) if it was denied the right to pursue what it considers its right to develop a full civilian nuclear energy programme.

“If Iran cannot use its legitimate rights in the framework of the NPT, it will no longer have respect for the treaty,” the semi-official ISNA students news agency quoted chief nuclear negotiator Hassan Rohani as telling visiting Russian deputy foreign minister Sergei Kislyak.

Iran, a signatory of the NPT, which was designed to limit the spread of nuclear weapons, is engaged in a high-stakes standoff with the West over its nuclear programme.

Tehran, which says its atomic ambitions are entirely peaceful, has threatened to resume processing nuclear fuel, which could be used to make nuclear weapons.

Washington and the European Union say such a move would lead to referral of Iran’s case to the U.N. Security Council for punitive measures.

“Using the fuel cycle in the framework of the NPT and international regulations is Iran’s final and national decision,” Rohani said.

“The Iranian nation will not yield to pressures to be deprived of its legal rights and is ready to pay any cost,” he added.