Italy not after US in Iran’s N-case

Former Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi insists on his country’s independent stance on Iran’s nuclear program, saying Italy is not a school boy obeying his teacher.

“Italy does not follow up the United States on Iran’s nuclear energy program. We are not like a school boy who goes after his teacher,” Fars news agency quoted Prodi as saying at a meeting on the financial crisis in Europe in Tehran on Sunday.

The former premier highlighted the overall importance of the European Union (EU), saying, “It can play a leading role in presenting diplomatic solutions (to international issues).”

He pointed to relations between Iran and the EU regardless of sanctions imposed on Tehran and said despite assumptions about EU’s determination over following US backed sanctions, “You should not think that the European Union is a superman because it has its own problems.”

Prodi urged European countries to make efforts to establish justice in the international community, saying great progress has been achieved over the past 10 years but major steps should be taken in the future.

Iranian officials reject Western accusations that Tehran is pursuing a military nuclear program, arguing that as a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, Iran has the right to peaceful nuclear energy.

On June 9, the UN Security Council (UNSC) imposed a US-engineered sanctions resolution targeting Iranian financial and military sectors.

Following the UNSC sanctions on Iran, the United States and the EU imposed their own unilateral sanctions.