2010-07-20 09:51

GENEVA - Iran will continue to pursue nuclear activities for peaceful purposes in defiance of "illegal and inhuman" sanctions, the country's top legislator Ali Larijani said here on Monday.

Addressing a world conference of parliament speakers, Larijani reiterated that Tehran "seeks to use nuclear energy for peaceful purposes within the framework of the NPT (Treaty on Non- Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons)."

"Our security doctrine and the Islamic beliefs we staunchly adhere to have strongly prohibited us from using nuclear energy for anything other than peaceful purposes," he said.

He added that Iran "is determined to pursue" its nuclear energy goal, and "such illegal and inhuman measures as sanctions cannot deter us from achieving our goal."

But according to the former chief nuclear negotiator, Iran is always open to "reasonable solutions" to its nuclear issue, including "meaningful negotiations".

He praised a recent nuclear fuel swap agreement brokered by Turkey and Brazil, according to which Iran will ship most of its low-enriched uranium to Turkey in exchange for the 20 percent uranium fuel needed for its reactor.

He condemned a rejection to the agreement by the United States, saying the US treatment of the agreement "is nothing but an indication of an arrogant, unprincipled and dishonorable approach in the international arena."

The United States and its Western allies have along accused Iran of trying to develop nuclear weapons. But Tehran has always said that its nuclear activities are for pure peaceful purposes.

In June, the UN Security Council adopted a resolution to impose a fourth round of sanctions against Iran over its suspected nuclear program, which caused sharp reactions from Iranian officials.