DAR AL HARB/ISLAM - THE WEST/IRAN: THE IEA SAYS THAT IRAN CAN USE NUCLEAR TECHNOLOGY LEGITIMATELY

Iran can legitimately use nuclear technology for energy, says IEA

PARIS (Thomson Financial) - Iran can legitimately use nuclear technology to produce energy, said International Energy Agency director Claude Mandil, even though Western nations fear Tehran is trying to arm itself with an atomic weapon.

Nuclear enrichment is a very sensitive stage in the nuclear development process that can be used in the development of armaments, Mandil admitted during a press conference in Paris, adding he understood the fears expressed by many countries.

But he said a country like Iran could include a nuclear option in its energy production mix, since, from an energy perspective, it would increase the amount of hydrocarbons available for export.

Iran, a signatory of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, continues to defy the international community in refusing to suspend its controversial uranium enrichment activities, as has been demanded by the UN Security Council.

...

and

Ahmadinejad again rules out Iran nuclear work halt
By Parisa Hafezi

TEHRAN (Reuters) - Iran will not bow to international pressure to halt its nuclear program, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said on Thursday, after world powers told Tehran to halt uranium enrichment or face a third round of U.N. sanctions.

"If they (the West) think by using some organizations (U.N.) they can prevent Iran from obtaining (nuclear) technology ... they are mistaken," Ahmadinejad told a rally in the southeastern Kerman province, state television reported.

Senior officials from the United States, Britain, France, Germany, Russia and China warned Iran on Wednesday of fresh U.N. sanctions if it refused to halt uranium enrichment work which the West suspects could be used to build nuclear weapons.

The United Nations has imposed two sets of sanctions on Iran since December over its refusal to freeze enrichment -- a process that can be used to make atomic warheads.

Iran, the world's fourth largest oil exporter, has so far ruled out freezing such work which it says will only be used for peaceful ends such as generating electricity.

"The Iranian nation will continue to insist on its right to nuclear technology," Ahmadinejad said.

...


Pertinent Links:

1) Iran can legitimately use nuclear technology for energy, says IEA

2) Ahmadinejad again rules out Iran nuclear work halt