/ 21 August 2006

SA centre stage in Iran nuclear issue

South Africa is trying to help resolve the dispute over Iran’s nuclear programme through separate discussions with the Iranian foreign minister and the United States’s ambassador to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

Iranian Foreign Minister Manuchehr Motakki met Minister of Foreign Affairs Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma in Pretoria on Monday.

He thanked South Africa for its continued support for Iran’s right to develop nuclear energy for peaceful purposes.

Motakki’s visit comes a day before Iran is to announce what it called a ”multi-faceted response” to an offer of incentives from the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council and Germany if Iran stops enriching uranium. It is feared the enriched uranium may be used to build a nuclear bomb.

Iran’s response will come just days before a UN Security Council deadline — for Iran to respond to the offer or face economic and diplomatic sanctions — expires at the end of the month.

”We hope there is some cooperation and negotiations respecting the right of Iran to have nuclear technology and remove any questions,” Motakki said.

South Africa has consistently said that Iran had the ”inalienable” right to use nuclear energy for peaceful purposes.

During the meeting on Monday Dlamini-Zuma said she hoped the matter can be resolved as soon as possible.

”We urge all parties to avoid confrontation and resume negotiations,” she said in opening remarks before the South Africa-Iran bilateral commission met.

Motakki was officially in South Africa for the commission, but he may also meet President Thabo Mbeki to discuss the nuclear issue.

In the meantime, the United States ambassador to the IAEA, Greg Schulte, is expected in South Africa later in the week.

Schulte will meet South Africa’s representative to the IAEA Abdul Minty, and make public appearances to speak about Iran’s nuclear programme and possible UN action against Iran. Minty is also a member of the IAEA’s governing board. — Sapa