AFP: Iran’s ambassador to the UN nuclear watchdog on Thursday challenged his US counterpart to an “open-ended” debate on Washington’s call for sanctions against the Iranian nuclear program. VIENNA, Sept 14, 2006 (AFP) – Iran’s ambassador to the UN nuclear watchdog on Thursday challenged his US counterpart to an “open-ended” debate on Washington’s call for sanctions against the Iranian nuclear program.
“I am fully prepared . . . to have comprehensive review to technical, legal, security and political aspects in an open-ended meeting in a debate with the US ambassador in order to prove . . . that allegations are baseless and the Islamic Republic of Iran is (the) victim of neglect, discrimination and double standards,” Ali Asghar Soltanieh told a meeting of the International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna.
Soltanieh’s challenge echoed Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad call on US President George W. Bush to a debate.