Iran’s Ambassador to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Ali Asghar Soltanieh read out the statement by the 120-member movement to the Board of Governors on Thursday in Vienna as it was convening to discuss the Islamic Republic’s nuclear case. Iran currently holds the rotating presidency of the NAM.
The movement noted that the ongoing Western-led dispute over Iran’s nuclear energy program needs to be resolved diplomatically and within the framework of the IAEA.
The movement noted that every nation is entitled to use nuclear technology for peaceful purposes.
The NAM, comprised of nations considering themselves to be independent of major powers, also called for a nuclear-free Middle East, as a major step towards global disarmament.
Earlier in the day, the IAEA Director General, Yukiya Amano addressed the Board of Governors, calling for concerted international effort to find a diplomatic channel to resolve the existing issues over Iran’s nuclear energy program.
“There is an opportunity to resolve the Iranian nuclear issue diplomatically. Now is the time for all of us to work with a sense of urgency and seize the opportunity for a diplomatic solution,” Amano said.
The United States, Israel, and some of their allies have repeatedly accused Iran of pursuing non-civilian objectives in its nuclear energy program.
Iran argues that as a signatory to the nuclear Non-Proliferation treaty and a member of the IAEA, it is entitled to develop and acquire nuclear technology for peaceful purposes.
In addition, the IAEA has conducted numerous inspections of Iran's nuclear facilities, but has never found any evidence of divergence towards military objectives in the Islamic Republic's nuclear energy program.
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The Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) has reaffirmed its support for Iran’s nuclear energy program in a statement read out to the UN nuclear watchdog’s Board of Governors.
News ID 183512
