Iran will continue to cooperate with the International Atomic Energy Agency if its controversial nuclear program is not made into a political issue, the country's foreign minister said Thursday.
Manouchehr Mottaki told journalists that Iranians want a peaceful nuclear program, and the country's leadership was resolved to continue research. He said he hoped the UN Security Council would not make decisions aimed against Tehran regarding civilian nuclear research.
"International organizations should not ignore countries' rights, and we hope the UN Security Council will not make this decision," he said.
The UN Security Council is currently considering a resolution drafted by the United States, Britain and France that could see economic sanctions imposed on the Islamic Republic.
Mottaki, taking part in a session of the Economic Cooperation Organization, a regional body, in the Azerbaijani capital, said the discussion of the Iranian problem in the Security Council was a political decision.
He said the Security Council discussed security issues, but that civilian nuclear research in Iran "is a technical issue, which is why it should be discussed in the IAEA and the UN's technical department."
"In this case, Iran will continue cooperating with the IAEA," he said.
Mottaki said Iran had signed the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty and had a right to civilian nuclear technology.
Iran is continuing its controversial nuclear program, which some countries fear will be used to develop nuclear weapons, in defiance of the international community. [rian.ru]
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