Threats of sanctions are against Iran are immature, and a referral to the United Nations Security Council would not help alleviate the nuclear crisis in Iran, its acting Foreign Minister, Mehdi Mostafavi, said on Friday.
Speaking after a week-long visit to South Africa, Mostafavi said Iran will not be deterred from its nuclear programme by the threat of sanctions.
”Taking into account that those who have already imposed sanctions [during the Iran-Iraq war] have gained nothing, the threat of sanctions is immature.”
A referral to the UN Security Council would be political and not very helpful, he said.
”If the crisis headed for escalation, not only one party would be harmed, it would be harmful to everyone,” he said. ”The price of oil will be increased and countries using more oil will be harmed the most.”
Mostafavi’s visit to South Africa comes ahead of an emergency meeting of the International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) 35-nation board, of which South Africa is a member, on February 2, called by European nuclear negotiators aiming to refer Iran to the UN Security council.
”I hope Iran and South Africa … can take the process forward within the framework of the IAEA,” Mostafavi said.
He also asked South Africa to clarify Iran’s position within the Non-Aligned Movement.
Iran earlier this month halted its self-imposed moratorium on uranium enrichment. This prompted alarm in many countries.
Mostafavi insisted that his country operates within the frameworks of the IAEA.
”We have allowed the IAEA to do any surveillance and inspections to our nuclear activities … the concerns of some is [thus] out of context,” he said. ”By no means will Iran relegate its right to peaceful nuclear research.” — Sapa