Iran hits out at Israeli nuke programme

AFP[ TUESDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2002 03:00:00 AM ]
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/cms.dll/xml/uncomp/articleshow?artid=31486848

TEHRAN: A top Iranian official hit out at Washington on Monday
for voicing concerns over the Islamic republic's nuclear programme
while plying Israel with advanced weaponary.

"The Zionist (Israeli) regime has not signed any disarmament
convention," complained Hassan Rohani, the head of Iran's Supreme
Council of National Security.

"So how can the criminal regime have access to all facilities and
Western help to develop its advanced weapons technology?" he was
quoted as saying by state radio during talks with a visiting Dutch
official.

Rohani also complained that Iran was under "serious pressure from
the West", even though its quest for what he said was peaceful
nuclear energy technology was "within the framework of international
conventions".

"Iran does not have any hidden policy in nuclear technology and its
strategy is on the basis of peaceful, open and transparent policies,"
he said.

Rohani reiterated assertions that Iran "had given nformation
concerning the two sites in Natanz and Arak to the International
Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) several months ago and had invited the
agency to visit the sites."

Times of India
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