Iran says it has no plans to build nuclear arms
( 2003-10-17 23:26) (Agencies)
Iranian President Mohammad
Khatami said on Friday his country had no plans to build nuclear weapons and
predicted that it would reach an agreement on its nuclear programme with the UN
atomic watchdog.
Khatami, speaking on the sidelines of an Islamic summit in
Malaysia, said Iran did not rule out signing the Additional Protocol of the
nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty on snap inspections but insisted on respect for
his country's rights.
"We have no intention to build nuclear weapons,"
Khatami told reporters, adding that while Iran was co-operating with the UN
nuclear inspectors, it was on its guard against any threat from the
outside.
"We continue to cooperate with the agency," he said, referring to
the International Atomic Energy Agency.
"It is not in our defence strategy to
develop a nuclear bomb," he said, adding" The UN nuclear watchdog chief said on
Thursday Iran had vowed to answer outstanding concerns about its nuclear
programme and was willing to accept tougher inspections of sites, where
Washington says bombs could be made.
"We are going to do everything within
the legal framework of the agency," Khatami said on the last day of the two-day
summit of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference.
Seen as more moderate
than some of his colleagues, Khatami said his country had started final
negotiations with the IAEA, adding they would reach an agreement over Tehran's
nuclear programme.
"For our sovereignty and territorial integrity we are
going to discuss and we are going to reach final agreement and we have already
started final negotiations," he said. "There is no major problem in principle
but we insist on our rights," he said.
He said another group of IAEA
inspectors would arrive soon.
Khatami, having mentioned the possibility of
hostilities by the United States or Israel, said he did not think Washington
would do anything provocative at this time.
"They are not in a position to
commit another mistake but at the same time we remain ready, we remain
vigilant," he said.
"I don't think the United States is in a position with
the international community to commit this mistake a second or third
time."
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