In an interview with Press TV, Nader Baqerzadeh, a professor at the University of California on Sunday, said Iran’s right to having a nuclear energy program is non-negotiable and the international community should recognize this in future talks with Tehran.
“The proposal has to include some level of enrichment for Iran and I think they should understand that that issue is basically not negotiable,” he added.
Baqerzadeh said the fatwa (religious decree) issued by the Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei on the prohibition of nuclear weapons confirms intelligence agencies’ report that there is no record of Iran working on the military applications of nuclear technology.
“I think the background is being set up that the peaceful nature of the Iranian nuclear activity could be presentable to the world as long as the Agency’s involved. I think this is a good point to that, to be reminded of,” he said.
Iran and the United Nations nuclear watchdog wrapped up two days of talks in Tehran on Thursday, and agreed to hold a new round of talks again in the Iranian capital on Feb 12.
The talks between Iranian and IAEA negotiators were focused on finding a structured framework for mutual cooperation.
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 committed signatory to the Non-Proliferation Treaty and a member of the IAEA, it is entitled to develop and acquire nuclear technology for peaceful purposes.
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