Paper Questions Role of EU Trio in Iran's Nuclear Case

Islamic Republic News Agency:

An Iranian daily here Saturday questioned the role of Britain, Germany and France in Iran's nuclear issue asking why they acted as the "self-assumed joint spokesman" for the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

Commenting on the remarks of new Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, Ali Larijani, the 'Kayhan International' said that free world has welcomed Larijani's comments when he has recently asked in Vienna that to who actually the said European trio are representing.

The English-language daily criticized Iran's former administration for holding more than 22 months of negotiations with the EU big three and for voluntarily suspending Tehran's nuclear activities.

"What had troubled Iranians so far was: Why Tehran had allowed Paris, Berlin and London to take it for a ride, when the trio neither represented the IAEA nor the UN or the European Union?" asked the editorial.

Stressing that the European big three "Had no official mandate or authority except to serve interests of their godfather, the US," the paper backed Larijani's comments that "The negotiations ought to be between Iran and the IAEA governing board that represents all its member states." READ MORE

Kayhan International further said the EU trio "Should know that Iran resolved to break new ground in the peaceful exploitation of nuclear energy whether they like it or not."

It reiterated that the Islamic Iran "is a peace-loving country and believes in peaceful co-existence in a world devoid of the danger of nuclear arms.

"It is a misconstrued idea to think that Iran will buckle down under pressure from the Great Satan (the US) and its European and regional bullies in awe of their nuclear stockpile and forgo its inalienable right to develop this vital source of energy," argued the paper.

It strongly criticized a "handful" nuclear-powered states for restoring "to the absurd threat of sending unclear dossier to the UN for possible sanctions" and said that they are doing so in order to maintain their "Unjust monopoly at the rest of the world" and for forcing Tehran to become "totally dependent upon them for its fuel requirements."