French Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy on Thursday called Iran's nuclear program a “clandestine, military” project, and that "no civilian nuclear program can explain Iran's nuclear program."
Douste-Blazy, according to the AFP, made the comments to France's channel 2 television station, to which Iran quickly responded.
“Diplomats should refrain from making such strong announcements”, said Ali Larijani, the secretary general of the Islamic Republic’s Supreme National Security Council and Iran’s senior nuclear negotiator.
Larijani added, “We must not hear statements similar to what is said by the United States from European countries."
He rejected the claim that Tehran was pursuing a nuclear weapons program, saying that if Iran had wanted to pursue the production of nuclear weapons, it would not have signed the nuclear non-proliferation treaty.
"We're not interested in acquiring a bomb, and that's why we accepted the nuclear non-proliferation treaty," he told French reporters.
Larijani hinted that the current criticism against it could result in the suspension of oil sales to the west.
“We will not take the first step. But, if they act in a way that changes the situation in the region, this might be effective,” he warned.
Earlier this month, Iran was reported to the United Nations Security Council for failing to abide by international regulations regarding its nuclear program.
On Tuesday Iran announced that it had resumed sensitive uranium enrichment work.
© 2006 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
