Date:28/03/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/03/28/stories/2006032804251000.htm

National

We are not hiding any bomb: Iran

Amit Baruah

Unafraid of sanctions: Mashaee

Rohim Mashaee.

NEW DELHI: "We are not hiding any [nuclear] bomb in any part of Iraq," Iranian Vice-President Rahim Mashaee said here on Monday.

Emphasising that Iran's "nuclear knowledge" was homegrown, he said it was "impossible" to launch a military attack on Teheran's research capabilities.

The Vice-President, who met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Saturday, said Iran was not perturbed at what the United Nations Security Council might do on the nuclear issue. "We have no concerns about any matter," he told a select group of presspersons.

Teheran was also not afraid of sanctions. "We have been under economic sanctions for the last 30 years ... they are not allowing us to purchase spare parts for civilian aircraft, which are critical for passenger safety."

Ripple effect

Mr. Mashaee warned that sanctions would have a ripple effect on other parts of the world. Without referring to Iran's status as a major oil supplier, he claimed that further sanctions would not hurt his country.

Asked whether Teheran was disappointed at New Delhi voting against it at the International Atomic Energy Agency meeting, he said Dr. Singh told him that Iran had the right to peaceful use of nuclear energy.

Asserting that Iran had tried for years to build confidence in the international community on the nuclear issue, Mr. Mashaee said the "great nation of India" had always opposed "aggressive treatment" of his country in the matter of peaceful use of nuclear energy.

The 42-year-old Vice-President said it was not possible for Iran to "go back" on its peaceful nuclear programme. "It is not possible at all." Teheran would continue its cooperation with the international community "as we have done in the past."

Mr. Mashaee's repeated statements that Iran's nuclear research capabilities were "100 per cent domestic" go against India's new efforts to link the country with the Pakistan-based A.Q. Khan nuclear technology smuggling ring.

Nuclear issue

Asked whether his country expected India's support on the nuclear issue, Mr. Mashaee said, "We do not expect anything particular from India."

Asked whether "final clearance" was received for the five-million-tonne-a-year supply of Iranian liquefied natural gas (LNG), the Vice-President merely said it was "cleared in principle".

"We will take into account not just international price but other issues as well. Cooperation with India is an important issue." Iranian Oil Minister Kazem Vaziri-Hamaneh would visit India in the "near future" to discuss this and other issues.