West using nuclear issue to counter Iran’s regional influence: MP

Lawmaker Hojjatollah Souri says the West uses Iran’s nuclear activities as an excuse to counter the Islamic Republic’s influence in the region.

He said because Iran is a signatory to the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and has allowed International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspectors to visit its nuclear sites, Western countries are aware of all of Tehran’s nuclear activities.

Souri, who is member of the Majlis National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, added that if Iran was in pursuit of nuclear weapons like North Korea, it would have never agreed to come to the negotiating table.

The lawmaker stressed that Tehran seeks constructive interaction with the world.

The United States, Israel and some of their allies have repeatedly accused Iran of pursuing non-civilian objectives in its nuclear energy program, with the United States and European Union (EU) using this pretext to impose several rounds of illegal unilateral sanctions against Tehran.

Tehran refutes the allegation, maintaining that as a signatory to the NPT and a member of the IAEA, it has the right to enrich uranium for peaceful purposes.

In addition, IAEA inspectors have never found any evidence showing that the Iranian nuclear energy program has been diverted toward non-civilian objectives.