West Accepts Iran’s Nuclear Right: Analyst

Islamabad, March 5, IRNA -- A Pakistani analyst said here Monday positive attitude adopted by the 5+1 Group in talks with Iran shows that in principle they have accepted Iran’s nuclear right. Speaking to IRNA Shahidur Rehman, senior research fellow at South Asian Strategic Stability Institute (SASSI) added that western states have realized that Iran cannot be pressurized over its peaceful nuclear program. He said that shift in the policy of West is in fact the victory of Iran. The eighth round of Iran, 5+1 Group talks were held in Kazakhstanˈs capital city, Almaty, on February 26th and 27th. Iran’s Foreign Minister Ali-Akbar Salehi has underlined that Iranˈs nuclear issue will be solved, saying that both sides have got the feeling that there is a way out of the problem. Shahidur Rehman expressing his views said that the gulf between Iran and the West has to be bridged through talks. The researcher said that a negative propaganda campaign is going on against the nuclear program of Iran. He added that Iran wants to establish nuclear power plants to enrich uranium to meet its energy requirements. The analyst said that Iran is already enriching uranium upto 20 percent for Tehran Research Reactor for medical treatment. “There is acceptance of capability of Iran by the western countries in making fuel for nuclear reactors,” said the researcher. Shahidur Rehman went to say that Iran has repeatedly said that they are not developing nuclear weapon program. “Iran is enriching uranium to make electricity,” he said. The analyst said that Iran and 5+1 had a useful round of talks in which both sides presented their point of view. He was confident that soon an agreement would be reached between Iran and 5+1 Group over Islamic Republic’s peaceful nuclear program. He said that under the agreement Iran would be provided with nuclear power plants and uranium enrichment facilities. The analyst agreed with the statement of Iran’s foreign minister that Iranˈs case will not be the same as those of North Korea or Libya. “Iran’s nuclear program is much advanced and sophisticated,” said Shahidur Rehman. He said that the west has understood that the sanctions have proved a futile exercise against Iran and rather they have boosted the progress of Iran. Washington and its western allies accuse Iran of trying to develop nuclear weapons under the cover of a civilian nuclear program, while they have never presented any corroborative evidence to substantiate their allegations. Iran denies the charges and insists that its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes only. Tehran stresses that the country has always pursued a civilian path to provide power to the growing number of Iranian population. Shahidur Rehman is a senior journalist and security analyst. He has also authored a book about Pakistan’s nuclear program “Long Road to Chaghi’ in 1999./end