TEHERAN, MARCH 9, 2004, RIA NOVOSTI - Iranian Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi has dismissed accusations brought against his country by Mohammed el Baradei, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency. The IAEA chief accuses Iran of failing to meet its nuclear programs commitments.
El Baradei said yesterday before a session of the IAEA governing council that Iran and Libya had violated the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. Commenting on that pronouncement, Kharrazi said he considered the comparison of Iran to Libya to be an invalid one. Libya has officially admitted to developing nuclear weapons programs in violation of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty whereas Iran has never pursued any such program, but has been complying with the treaty all along, the minister explained. He said he was sure that the IAEA would eventually see for itself that it was wrong as all of Iran's nuclear programs are open and peaceful.
