Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Hamid Reza Asefi on Sunday said Tehran is not to accept the first part of Europe's proposed draft resolution and stressed that the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) should not built its future measures on Iran's comprehensive and continuing suspension.
Talking to reporters during his weekly press briefing, he noted that talks with Europe were still going on. He added many parts of the draft have been changed according to Iran's desires but still the first part fails to meet the Islamic Republic's demands.
Stressing that voluntary suspension of uranium enrichment activities by Iran is a trust-building gesture, he said since the first part of the draft does not comply with the second one so Iran is asking the IAEA to act according to its responsibilities and not to build its measures on continuation of suspension activities.
In answer to a question regarding Iran's request from the IAEA to exempt 20 centrifuges from suspension agreement for research purposes, he said research was a totally different matter which has always been stressed by Iran both in the past and present junctures.
On Europe's deadline for Iran up to the ending hours of Sunday, Asefi remarked, according to IRNA, the question is not one concerning times or deadlines but the most important thing is that Iran is not to slaughter its legal and legitimate rights and would strongly defend its lawful rights.
Meanwhile, Iran's Majlis Speaker Gholam Ali Haddad Adel said Sunday that the IAEA was "discriminatory" in its approach towards the nuclear cases of Iran and South Korea. Addressing a Majlis open session, Haddad Adel added that this attitude toward the two states would damage its IAEA reputation.
"It is not only surprising but disappointing that South Korea's dossier was closed upon the United States' request but a resolution on Iran is discussed word for word," he said. He noted that the resolution proposed by the three European states to the IAEA Board of Governors has been amended for the second time and is still being discussed by Iran and European negotiators in Vienna.
