Iran's ambassador in France, Ali Ahani, said Friday that Iran
did not fear possible military intervention aimed at forcing it to
cease its uranium enrichment and that his country was capable of
confronting any threats.
Ahani said on France-Info radio that Iran was "not at all
worried" about a possible US attack, though "we are insisting on
solving things by negotiation and through diplomacy."
"If they (the Americans) go that way, we will be forced to
defend ourselves. We are capable of defending ourselves and
confronting any sort of threat," he added.
The US suspects Iran of trying to develop nuclear weapons and
said it did not rule out using force to make Tehran submit to the
requests of the international community.
US President George W. Bush said Thursday that "there must be
consequences for Iran's defiance, and we must not allow Iran to
develop a nuclear weapon."
The International Atomic Energy Agency also said Thursday that
Iran was continuing with its uranium enrichment program despite an
ultimatum from the UN Security Council to stop.
Washington was pushing for UN sanctions on Iran because Teheran
did not conform to UN resolution 1696 adopted on July 31, which
gave Iran the deadline of August 31 to suspend all activities
related to uranium enrichment.
Ahani said the resolution was "unjust" and added that Iran
respected international rules as a signatory of the Nuclear
Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).
He also affirmed that Iran was going to explain its position to
UN Secretary General Kofi Annan who was expected to visit Teheran
on Saturday.
(Xinhua News Agency September 2, 2006)
