Georgia backs Iran’s nuclear program

Georgian President Mikhail Sakashvili has offered a robust backing of Iran’s nuclear program, saying the Islamic Republic’s right to use nuclear energy is “undeniable”.

During a meeting with visiting Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki in Tbilisi on Wednesday, Sakashvili brushed aside Western concerns over Iran’s peaceful nuclear program and said “no country can dispute Iran’s right to use nuclear energy for civilian purposes,” Mehr News Agency reported.

The Georgian president also lauded Iran’s incremental progress in a variety of areas ranging from technology to energy in the Middle East, while adding that “Iran is an influential country in the region.”

The remarks came after Mottaki and his Georgian counterpart Grigol Vashadze signed an agreement on scrapping visa requirements between the two countries in a bid to rev up tourism industry and boost trade ties.

As part of his two-day visit to Georgia, the Iranian official also reopened an Iranian consulate in Georgia’s Black Sea resort of Batumi.

Earlier on Wednesday, Vashadze expressed strong support for Iran’s nuclear program as well and further welcomed Tehran’s continued willingness to engage in multifaceted talks with the group of six world powers –US, UK, Russia, France and China plus Germany.

Iran has welcomed EU foreign policy Chief Catherine Ashton’s call for the resumption of talks, stressing that any negotiations must be conducted within the framework of the Tehran declaration that was jointly issued with Brazil and Turkey on May 17.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran is a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, therefore, quite naturally and legally, the country has every right to use nuclear technology for peaceful purposes,” Vashadze stated.

The statement comes in wake of the most recent report by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on Iran’s nuclear program, once again verifying the non-diversion of the country’s civilian nuclear program.