Islamic Republic of Iran tries to gain EU’s confidence back

Iran is prepared to make every effort to cooperate with the IAEA in order to alleviate the international concerns over her nuclear program, according to President Khatami’s Spokesperson. In a press conference held on 6th September in Tehran Abdollah Ramezan-Zadeh, President Khatami’s Spokesperson, said: ‘Tehran would accept full supervision of its nuclear programs by IAEA, and would not undermine the articles of the NPT (non-proliferation treaty) and would observe/honour the Additional Protocol signed by Tehran.’ Iran is prepared to make every effort to cooperate with the IAEA in order to alleviate the international concerns over her nuclear program, he said. A day earlier, Hassan Rohani, the Chairman of the Islamic Republic’s National Security Council, flew to Holland where the EU Foreign ministers are meeting to discuss issues of mutual concern. He had talks with Bernard Bot, Holland’s foreign minister who holds EU’s rotating presidency, but neither side revealed the details of their discussions. Only later Mr. Rohani said: “we discussed almost ten major issues of mutual interest as well as the ways on how to progress on each of them. Our views were very close to one another.” Mr. Rohani’s trip to the EU presidency in Holland comes a week prior to the IAEA’s meeting, where Dr. Albaradei’s report on Iran will be discussed. The report raises the issue of Iran’s intention to enrich nearly 40 tons of Uranium in order to produce hexafluoride. It also emphasises Iran’s intention to restart developing the production of centrifuges used for uranium enrichment. American officials believe the information revealed by IAEA’s report is adequate to demonstrate that the Islamic Republic is not observing the IAEA’s demand for a total ban on its entire uranium enrichment program. They therefore believe Iran should be referred to the UN’s Security Council. Rohani’s trip to Holland is seen as another attempt by the Islamic Republic to attract EU’s support prior to IAEA’s meeting. After his meeting with Holland’s foreign minister, Mr. Rohani said: “the most important issue in our discussion was that the way to resolve concerns over Iran’s nuclear program is through dialogue. Putting Iran under pressure or threatening her is not going to work.”