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Iran has always said its nuclear activities are totally peaceful. |
Egypt has criticized the latest IAEA resolution, which censures Iran for its uranium enrichment program, saying it failed to include other nuclear disarmament issues in the Middle East.
“The resolution on the Iranian nuclear dossier does not take into account its regional aspect,” Egyptian Foreign Ministry spokesman Hossam Zaki told journalists on Saturday.
He added that the UN nuclear watchdog's resolution should have also mentioned Israel's nuclear arsenal and nuclear disarmament in the Middle East.
His remarks came after the 35-member International Atomic Energy Agency Board of Governors passed a resolution sponsored by Germany on Friday, calling on Iran to halt the construction of its Fordo enrichment plant, located near Qom.
The move was the IAEA's first adoption of a resolution against Iran since February 2006.
Malaysia, the current president of the IAEA Board of Governors, Venezuela, and Cuba voted against, but 25 countries voted for the resolution. Egypt was among the six countries that abstained. Azerbaijan Republic missed the vote.
The Egyptian diplomat reaffirmed Iran's right to nuclear energy, saying all signatories to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty are entitled to have nuclear programs for civilian applications without any preconditions.
However, he expressed his regret that Iran had failed to inform the IAEA about the construction of its second uranium enrichment facility in due time.
The Fordo site will be Iran's second uranium enrichment plant, after the Natanz facility in central Iran, for the production of nuclear fuel enriched to a level of 5 percent.
Iran announced that it was constructing the Fordo nuclear plant 12 months earlier than the agency's requirement for member states to inform the UN nuclear watchdog about new developments.
The country currently faces pressure to halt uranium enrichment, with Western powers alleging the civilian program is cover for a nuclear weapons program.
However, Tehran has denied the allegations and has called for the total eradication of all weapons of mass destruction.
SF/HGL
“The resolution on the Iranian nuclear dossier does not take into account its regional aspect,” Egyptian Foreign Ministry spokesman Hossam Zaki told journalists on Saturday.
He added that the UN nuclear watchdog's resolution should have also mentioned Israel's nuclear arsenal and nuclear disarmament in the Middle East.
His remarks came after the 35-member International Atomic Energy Agency Board of Governors passed a resolution sponsored by Germany on Friday, calling on Iran to halt the construction of its Fordo enrichment plant, located near Qom.
The move was the IAEA's first adoption of a resolution against Iran since February 2006.
Malaysia, the current president of the IAEA Board of Governors, Venezuela, and Cuba voted against, but 25 countries voted for the resolution. Egypt was among the six countries that abstained. Azerbaijan Republic missed the vote.
The Egyptian diplomat reaffirmed Iran's right to nuclear energy, saying all signatories to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty are entitled to have nuclear programs for civilian applications without any preconditions.
However, he expressed his regret that Iran had failed to inform the IAEA about the construction of its second uranium enrichment facility in due time.
The Fordo site will be Iran's second uranium enrichment plant, after the Natanz facility in central Iran, for the production of nuclear fuel enriched to a level of 5 percent.
Iran announced that it was constructing the Fordo nuclear plant 12 months earlier than the agency's requirement for member states to inform the UN nuclear watchdog about new developments.
The country currently faces pressure to halt uranium enrichment, with Western powers alleging the civilian program is cover for a nuclear weapons program.
However, Tehran has denied the allegations and has called for the total eradication of all weapons of mass destruction.
SF/HGL
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