Iran defense might non - negotiable: Iran’s UN envoy

News code : ۲۶۹۳۹۳

ILNA: Iran’s envoy to the UN says Tehran will continue to cooperate with the International Atomic Energy Agency(IAEA), but issues related to the country’s defense programs are non - negotiable.

“Based on our principled position, we continue to cooperate with the IAEA on clarifying some of the ambiguities. However, as stated by Iran’s high - ranking officials, areas related to our national security like the defense capabilities are not subjected to any negotiations at any level, ” said Iran’s deputy ambassador to the UN, Gholam - Hossein Dehqani.

The senior Iranian diplomat made the remarks in an address to a meeting of the United Nations General Assembly on Monday.

The Iranian envoy also urged the IAEA to be impartial and respect the right of the country to develop peaceful nuclear energy, adding, “Observing full impartiality and conducting the technical mandate of the IAEA is essential for preserving its authority and credibility and member states’ trust. ”

He further said that “the inalienable right of the NPT(Non - Proliferation Treaty) members to develop research, production and use of nuclear energy, including national nuclear fuel cycles for peaceful purposes, must be respected by all. ”

Dehqani’s comments come amid repeated calls by some Western officials, particularly in the United States, who want Iran’s missile program to be included in the nuclear talks between Tehran and the five permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany.

Iran and the P۵ + ۱ group - - Russia, China, France, Britain, the US and Germany - - are in talks to work out a final deal aimed at ending the longstanding standoff over the Islamic Republic’s nuclear energy program before a November ۲۴ deadline for the talks.

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