Iranian FM comments on nuclear issues, Israel

Описание: (26 Aug 2004)

1. Wide shot of news conference by Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo and Iranian Foreign Minister Dr. Kamal Kharrazi
2. Mid shot of Iranian Foreign Minister Dr. Kamal Kharrazi then pan to Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo
3. Wide shot of reporters
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Dr. Kamal Kharrazi, Iranian Foreign Minister:
"Basically we do not believe that nuclear weapons is bringing us security. That's why we believe that the whole Middle East should be free from nuclear weapons. The problem is that Israel has full capability in nuclear weapons. It's got a large arsenal of nuclear weapons as well as other weapons of mass destruction. It's not a member to the NPT (Non-Proliferation Treaty) and that has created other problems. Every country in the Middle East is feeling insecure because of the capabilities of Israel. That's why everyone is pushing for the establishment of the Middle East as a nuclear free zone and we are the advocators of this proposal. Therefore, I believe the international community has to put pressure on Israel to become a member of the NPT (Non-Proliferation Treaty) and to not develop nuclear weapons but to eliminate its existing nuclear weapons. In that sense, we would have a much safer environment in Middle East. But I assure you that Iranian nuclear technology is only for peaceful purposes."
5. Cutaway of reporter
6. Kharrazi walking past reporters

STORYLINE:

Israel's alleged arsenal of nuclear weapons is causing insecurity in the Middle East, and international pressure should be exerted on Tel Aviv to accede to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, Iran's Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi said on Thursday.

"Every country in the Middle East is feeling insecure because of the capabilities of Israel," Kharrazi told reporters during a visit to Manila in the Philippines.

Israel has never confirmed nor denied having nuclear weapons, but it is widely believed to be a nuclear power.

Its reactor at Dimona in the Negev Desert is said to be the source of plutonium for its alleged nuclear warheads.

On Tuesday, an Iranian government-owned newspaper quoted Defence Minister Ali Shamkhani as saying that his country was producing nuclear defence equipment to protect its citizens in case of any possible attack on its nuclear facilities.

But Kharrazi disputed the report, saying Iran has "never" said it's producing nuclear defence equipment.

He repeated earlier statements that its nuclear technology is "only for peaceful purposes" - for energy, medical and agricultural use.

Israel and the United States strongly suspect Iran - which President George W. Bush has called part of an "axis of evil" with North Korea and pre-war Iraq - is secretly building nuclear weapons.

Kharrazi said Iran's nuclear programme is under close watch by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), whose inspectors "frequently visit Iranian sites" and have found "no evidence" it is diverting nuclear material for weapons production.

"Basically, we do not believe nuclear weapons are bringing us security," he said. "That's why we believe that the whole Middle East should be free from nuclear weapons."

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