Pakistani Analyst Slams Intl Pressure On Iran’s Peaceful N-program

Islamabad, April 11, IRNA -- A senior Pakistani analyst on Tuesday said that Iran should keep on developing its peaceful nuclear program irrespective of external pressure. Former chief of Intelligence Bureau (IB) and in charge of Internal Security ISI, Brig (retd) Imtiaz Ahmed talking to IRNA welcomed the resumption of dialogue between Iran and 5+1 group. Istanbul has been confirmed as the venue for the nuclear talks between Iran and the six world powers -- the US, Russia, China, France, Britain and Germany. Head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organization (IAEO) Fereidoon Abbasi has announced that Iran will do 20-percent uranium enrichment just to meet its own needs. The US, Israel, and their allies accuse Iran of pursuing a military nuclear program. Iran has refuted the allegations, arguing that as a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and a member of the International Atomic Energy Agency, it has the right to develop and acquire nuclear technology for peaceful purposes. “I personally feel that this dialogue will certainly provide Iran a chance to present their point of view over peaceful nuclear program”, Imtiaz Ahmed said. He was of the opinion that the dialogue will help Iran explain its position on wider scale. The analyst added the dialogue will go a long way to provide space to other countries in understanding Iranian stance over peaceful nuclear program. He noted that the dialogue is a technique of international diplomacy. “I strongly believe that Iran is not heading towards military oriented program, they don’t want to have nuclear technology for making weapons,” he said. He said Iran must peruse its peaceful nuclear program as the country is observing all international laws regarding the nuclear program. “I tend to believe that they don’t have any military designs,” the analyst added. Imtiaz Ahmed has fifteen years of intelligence career. He served as director in charge of Internal Security ISI for several years in Islamabad and later director general of Intelligence Bureau (IB)./end