Making A Difference

‘We Were Not Happy With India’s Stance At The IAEA’

Iran’s ambassador to India says that his country is thankful to India for ignoring the US sanctions, though.

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‘We Were Not Happy With India’s Stance At The IAEA’
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Seyed Mehdi Nabizadeh, Iran’s ambassador to India, has been keeping a very busy schedule, what with Washington, Tel Aviv and other western capitals issuing tough statements against Iran’s nuclear weapons programme. These have raised the spectre of a possible military confrontation in the Persian Gulf. The conflict between Iran and the US is linked to the reports of the director-general (D-G) of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which were simultaneously sent to the agency’s board of governors and the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). Iran contends that the UNSC is not a technical body which can take decisions on matters nuclear.

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Since 2005, India has been consistently voting on resolutions against Iran at the meeting of the board of governors. The resolutions and D-G reports, finally, led to the United Nations imposing sanctions against Iran. There is also a set of sanctions that the US has been trying to impose on Iran, banning foreign entities from entering into trade with Tehran on certain items, including oil. However, India has been stoutly opposed to the proposed US sanctions on the sale of Iranian crude. Ambassador Nabizadeh spoke to Pranay Sharma. Excerpts.

The killing of Dr Mostafa Ahmadi Roshan last week is the most recent example of Iranian nuclear scientists coming under attack. Do you see a pattern in these killings?

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A lot of effort was made after the revolution to enhance knowledge in different fields. Since 60 per cent of our population comprised youth, this was very important—and we have had good achievements. We have many scientists in Iran who, like Dr Roshan, are experts in the nuclear field. Many countries that have been against us since the revolution also perpetrated terrorist violence and war on us. They want to create direct and indirect problems for us. Our enemies’ efforts were always to limit our progress and development. As the sanctions on us became stronger, the pressure on us also increased. Fortunately, they could not stop our progress, particularly in the field of atomic energy which we’re doing within the IAEA’s framework. The IAEA inspectors came to our country and observed our work and we answered the many questions they had. They know our programme is for peaceful purpose. Despite this, they want to take out our scientists. The attack on Ahmadi is the fourth on our nuclear scientists in the last two years. We want the international community to investigate who is behind these attacks.

But who do you think is behind them?

I am sure the countries who are our enemies have done this. From the beginning, America and Israel have not been friendly to us and, therefore, we want an independent investigation to find out who is behind these killings.

Why is it that Iran’s friends, which includes India, do not believe its claim that it is not pursuing a nuclear weapons programme?

India does not believe Iran is pursuing a nuclear weapons programme. The international community is only falling for propaganda. Many of them know we are not going ahead on this road. They saw it during the eight years of Iran-Iraq war. Chemical weapons were used against us in the war, but we did not retaliate with any such weapon. Through their (enemies of Iran) propaganda, they want to create a suspicion even though they know we are not pursuing a nuclear weapons programme.

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But few countries have sided with Iran. Most are against you.

I do not agree that a majority of the countries are against Iran.

Then why are they adhering to the imposition of sanctions on Iran?

They are doing that because they are members of the UN. But we feel these sanctions are illegal and unrealistic. The IAEA reports should not have been sent to the UNSC. It should have been put before the IAEA’s board of governors, which could have studied the matter. That is why we say these sanctions are illegal and want a change in the current structure of the UNSC. Some sanctions are now also being imposed by the US Congress. That is why we believe the structure of the UN and its Security Council must be changed so that its laws are in the interest of all and not to the benefit of only a few.

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But were you happy with the stand that India took at the IAEA board of governors’ meeting?

Definitely not, we were not happy with the Indian stand.

What kind of stands were you expecting India and China to take?

We believe that they should work according to what is reality.

What is your response to sanctions that the US Congress has proposed?

We do not pay any attention to the US sanctions. We believe that parliaments in every country must come up with their own domestic laws and that the UN is there to look after the interests of all countries and protect all of them. It should come out with laws without pressure from any country. We do not want any interference from a third country in our bilateral dealings.

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How have you been affected by the UN sanctions?

First, we became more serious and determined to push for our progress and development and overcome our shortcomings. We have been facing different kinds of sanctions since our revolution. Sometimes, they were against specific areas, while at other times, they were against specific people. But we have found ways to deal with them. In this, we have received help and cooperation from several countries. However, we’ve achieved many things at a high cost. For example, you may be looking for some goods which you need, but can’t find them easily and, therefore, you end up paying a higher price to get it.

India has announced it will not follow the US sanctions and will continue to buy oil from Iran. But given the fact that there are sanctions on banking, how do you ensure India’s buying oil from Iran?

We are thankful to India for ignoring the US sanctions. India did this because it has an independent policy. This can also help all the countries in the region. The banks are not within the purview of the UN sanctions, which sanction only activities related to atomic energy. But, because of US pressure, the international community brought in the banks as well to cut off our funds. It (the UN) also said that if the money is for purchase of oil and food, there is no problem. But the US is now trying to exert pressure, seeking to bring in sanctions on even the sale of oil.

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What is the way out for India?

Because of the cooperation between the RBI and the Central Bank of Iran, a way out has been found. Even at this time, a delegation from India is in Tehran to discuss, with the Iranian government, ways and means to resolve the problem. Transactions and transfer of money between the two countries is the core point. Diplomats don’t know much about these technical points. We leave it to the banking system to find a way.

Is a military confrontation between Iran and the US or Israel on the cards? What does Iran mean by saying that if the situation arises, it may close down the Strait of Hormuz?

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We believe that the time for a military answer to problems, of one country attacking another, has passed. They (Iran’s enemies) have the experience of attacking Iran through Iraq. That time has passed. If they want to do something like that, we are much stronger than before and we’ll answer them in the same language. That’s why it isn’t to the benefit of any country in the region. That’s why we believe that other countries won’t allow any country to attack us. If the Strait of Hormuz is damaged, it’ll affect a large number of countries and so, we hope that will never happen. But, the current UN sanctions should not affect the common people of Iran.

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