Iran determined to use nuclear energy

Iran’s foreign minister reiterates Iran’s determination to utilize its nuclear power plant and fully exploit its civilian nuclear technology despite the US-engineered anti-Iran sanctions.

Manouchehr Mottaki made the remarks in a meeting with Foreign Minister of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed al-Nahayan on the sidelines of UN General Assembly’s annual session in New York.

Mottaki stressed that Iran’s full cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has continued in spite of the politically-tainted UN sanctions and the unilateral measures by the US and the European Union, IRNA reported on Tuesday.

The Iranian official also underlined the Islamic Republic’s plans to use nuclear energy as the main source of supplying electricity to the whole country based on Iran’s economic development plan.

UAE’s foreign minister, for his part, congratulated Iran for being the first Middle Eastern nation to launch a nuclear power plant, noting his country’s own plan to begin construction of a nuclear power plant before the end of 2010.

Mottaki also held separate talks with his counterparts from Central Africa, Bolivia, and Cuba, during which the sides exchanged views on expanding bilateral ties and boosting cooperation on all fronts.

The focus of this year’s General Assembly has been described as the Millennium Development Goals.