Iran FM slams IAEA resolution as “discriminatory”

The Iranian foreign minister has slammed the IAEA resolution against Tehran as “illogical” and “discriminatory”, saying the UN nuclear watchdog was implementing the “law of the jungle”.

Manouchehr Mottaki said the resolution, passed by the IAEA board of governors on Friday, “weakened” the position of the UN nuclear watchdog as an international body.

Speaking at a joint press conference with Russian Energy Minister Sergei Shmatko, Mottaki criticized Western media for not reflecting Iran’s “clear response” to an IAEA proposal to provide Iran with the nuclear fuel it needs for medical purposes.

The Friday resolution, sponsored by Germany, was passed in a 25-3 vote with six abstentions, demanding that Iran halt the construction of its Fordo nuclear facility outside Tehran.

The resolution came despite the announcement of IAEA inspectors after their visit to Fordo nuclear plant that no centrifuges had been installed at the site.

“We could not find any logical reason for the Board of Governors’ decision,” Mottaki said. “We cannot accept discrimination in international relations. Either there are rights or such rights do not exist.”

“The age of discriminatory policies is over. This is the law of the jungle,” Mottaki said.

Iranian authorities have rejected the notion that the newly-adopted resolution is much stronger than the previous ones, arguing that the past resolutions called for a complete halt to Iran’s nuclear enrichment program while the latest resolution seeks to pressure Iran into abandoning construction work at the Fordo plant.

He added that as a “committed” and “cooperative” member of the IAEA, Iran has the right to uranium enrichment activities for peaceful purposes.

Floated by the Obama administration, the proposal requires Iran to send abroad most of its low-enriched uranium (LEU) to be further processed and then returned to the country for use in the Tehran research reactor.

Iran has officially announced that it is ready to consider the IAEA proposal if Tehran is given guarantees that it will receive the fuel. The Islamic Republic has called for the nuclear swap to takes place within the country’s borders.

Shmatko, for his part, said Moscow was against escalating tensions between Iran and the West, and added, “There is still good scope to continue negotiations.”

Iran and Russia have close ties but Moscow voted against Tehran in the IAEA resolution.

In response to the IAEA resolution, the Iranian government on Sunday tasked the Atomic Energy Organization (AEO) with building ten more nuclear enrichment sites.

The decision has been criticized by the governments in Britain, France, Germany and the United States.

Britain and Germany warned on Monday that Tehran could face more sanctions if it continues with its enrichment plans.