DAVOUDI
ISLAMABAD (Reuters):
IRAN HAS no desire for nuclear weapons but will not compromise on its right to develop nuclear technology to meet its energy needs, First Vice President Parviz Davoudi said in Pakistan yesterday.
Davoudi, who was in Islamabad with Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki for talks with the Pakistani leadership, said Iran was ready to continue talks with other governments in order to defuse the row over its nuclear programme.
"Nuclear armament and weapons have no place in Iran's military strategy and the right of nuclear technology is the right of every nation on this globe," Davoudi told a joint news conference with Pakistani Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz.
CONTINUING WITH NEGOTIATIONS
"But in order to provide greater assurances to the international community ... we are prepared to continue with the negotiations with other parties," he said.
His restatement of Iran's public policy came as Washington announced a possible meeting next week of foreign ministers from world powers to decide how to dissuade Tehran from enriching uranium, that could eventually be used for weapons.
The United States and some of its Western allies suspect Iran's nuclear programme is a cover-up for efforts to develop nuclear weapons and are trying to get it to halt uranium enrichment work.
