ALMATY, June 17 (RIA Novosti) - Biased restrictions on the use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes may seriously undermine trust in the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty, Iran's deputy foreign minister said.
Iran's nuclear programs have been a source of major controversy since the beginning of the year, as many countries suspect the Islamic Republic of pursuing a covert weapons program under the pretext of civilian research, despite its claims to the contrary.
"Iran intends to use its right [for peaceful nuclear development] as part of this treaty," Abbas Araghchi said at a summit dedicated to boosting trust in Asia in Kazakhstan's capital.
"This policy is based on long-term planning aimed to ensure Iran's growing energy demands," he said.
"We are ready to discuss all these issues with the West but we cannot ban our people to get advantages from the peaceful use of nuclear energy," Araghchi said.
EU foreign policy supremo Javier Solana handed proposals drafted by five permanent UN Security Council members and Germany to Tehran during a visit June 6. The Iran-6 drew up the package of incentives in bid to make it suspend uranium enrichment, which they fear could be used for weapons production.
Araghchi said Iran hailed these proposals calling them "an opportunity to move forward on the basis of mutual trust, goodwill and equality with no preconditions."
