Gholamreza Aghazadeh: Iran Remains Committed to the Non-Proliferation Treaty

Gholamreza Aghazadeh, the Vice President and Minister of Energy of the Islamic Republic, states that the Iranian government remains committed to the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) but has objections to the deadline set by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which was established last week for Iran to prove it is not engaged in a nuclear weapons program. The IAEA has given the Iranian government until the end of October to demonstrate that Iran is not developing nuclear weapons. Aghazadeh mentions that the Iranian government continues to negotiate with the IAEA regarding the possibility of unlimited inspections of Iran's nuclear facilities. He stated: 'Our cooperation with the IAEA will continue within the framework of comprehensive guarantees as before.' As the Iranian government has previously announced, we will continue negotiations with the IAEA regarding new agreements. Aghazadeh's remarks came after reports indicated that an Iranian official suggested Iran might withdraw from the treaty that prohibits the production of nuclear weapons. Iran has strongly criticized the IAEA resolution that deemed it responsible and accused the United States and Britain of pressuring the IAEA to pass this resolution against Iran. The U.S. has accused the Iranian government of attempting to acquire nuclear weapons and has pressured Russia to cease its assistance to Iran in constructing a nuclear power plant in Bushehr. Iran claims that its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes. Russia insists that Iran comply with the United Nations' demands.