Ulyanov: Iran is fully entitled; nuclear rights of countries undeniable

Pars Today - Russian representative to the International Atomic Energy Agency, approving the Islamic Republic of Iran's right to enjoy full nuclear fuel cycle, emphasized that the rights of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) member states are undeniable.

Mikhail Ulyanov, Russia's Envoy to the IAEA, wrote in a message on X social network on Saturday, "I prefer to avoid expressing my opinion about details in this sensitive phase of the talks, but the Iranian foreign minister is quite right." According to Pars Today, Ulyanov added, "According to the NPT, the member states are not merely committed to some obligations; they rather enjoy fundamental rights which cannot be questioned."

Earlier, Iran's Foreign Minister, Seyyed Abbas Araghchi, in reaction to the recent remarks of his American counterpart, Mark Rubio, who had raised the threadbare allegation of prohibition of uranium enrichment by Iran, stressed that "Repetition of wrong allegations does not change fundamental realities."

Araghchi added, "Iran, as a founding signatory of NPT, enjoys complete right to nuclear fuel cycle."

The Iranian foreign minister also made it clear in his message on X network, "There are numerous governments among the NPT member states which have totally rejected nuclear weapon while enriching uranium; countries from Asia, Europe and South America."

He went on to write, "Adoption of maximum stances and provocative rhetoric not only will not help settlement of differences, but will also undermine the possibility of reaching an agreement. A credible and sustainable agreement is in reach. It needs only a political will and a fair approach."

According to article 4 of the NPT, which Iran is considered among its founding signatories, all member states have the right to enjoy nuclear energy for peaceful purposes. Uranium enrichment has also been stressed as part of this right.

The US State Secretary, Mark Rubio, had expressed the recent remarks while the new round of the Iran-America nuclear negotiations is underway and some pundits maintain that the contradictory statements of the Trump administration officials will create further challenges for the process of these negotiations.

RM/MG