Soltanieh slams western 'neo-colonial mentality' on Iran http://www.irna.ir/ENNewsShow.aspx?NID=30457897&SRCH=1

Iran's Ambassador to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Ali Asghar Soltanieh here Saturday lambasted the US and European countries for their 'neo-colonial mentality' when it comes to dealing with Iran's nuclear issue. Addressing a high-level international disarmament conference at the German foreign ministry, Soltanieh emphasized the western carrot-and-stick approach as well as its sanction-dialogue strategy was actually a 'humiliation of the Iranian nation.' He added the carrot-and-stick policy was in fact 'a notion applied to animals.'

The Iranian diplomat urged the West to undertake an 'indepth study of Iranian culture.'Soltanieh made clear the West had to cope with the fact that Iran had mastered enrichment technology. He reiterated his country would 'not give up' this right but would still continue its cooperation with the UN nuclear watchdog. Soltanieh said Iran was 'ready to fully cooperate' on the nuclear issue if the UN Security resolutions were removed. He reaffirmed the UN resolutions had 'no legal basis,' saying his country would never comply with them.

The Iranian official urged the West to return to the negotiating table without preconditions. Solatenieh said once again Iran was ready to negotiate with the West on common interests like fighting drugs and combating terrorism. The Iranian envoy said his country could be a reliable partner for the West not only in the region but throughout the world.He reiterated the West had to finally recognize Iran's inalienable rights to have nuclear energy. Soltanieh said western sanctions had 'not affected' Iranian nuclear activities. The Iranian ambassador said again Tehran was not pursuing nuclear weapons on religious grounds.

Meanwhile, Soltanieh voiced deep scepticism over prospects for a nuclear weapons-free zone in the Middle East, saying this was not possible as long as the Zionist regime refuses to join the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). He urged the West to 'not support' the illegal Jewish state 'at any price.' Soltanieh said also the democratic changes in the Arab world were a 'good opportunity' to put pressure on the Zionist regime over its nuclear policy.

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