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Doha: Iran is ready to share its nuclear technology with Gulf countries and open its research facilities to create confidence among neighbours and demolish the charge that the country is on its way to building a nuclear bomb, Iranian officials here said.
While supporting Iran's stance over the use of nuclear technology for peaceful purposes, Gulf countries have at times expressed concerns over a nuclear build-up in the region and the risks posed to the environment.
"Gulf countries know we are not building any nuclear weapons. They rather fear Bushehr plant [currently under construction] may cause an environmental disaster. But we invite them to visit us and to carry out investigations and inspections of our facilities," Alireza Shaikhattar, deputy foreign minister for economic affairs of Iran, told Gulf News.
"Our nuclear plant at Bushehr would have the best available safety standards. We are in search of peaceful and safe nuclear energy, and we are ready to make the Gulf countries or any other country confident by allowing access to the nuclear facilities. Unlike North Korea, we have not come out of the Non Proliferation Treaty. The United States is making a false case against us."
On Wednesday, Prof Mohammad Larijani, director of the Institute for Studies in Theoretical Physics and Mathematics in Iran, told panellists in a public debate on the Gulf-Iran relations that Gulf countries should not be suspicious about Iran's nuclear programme and invited them to share its technology.
"Iran's neighbours in the Gulf Cooperation Council [GCC] should actually be glad about Iran's peaceful nuclear programme because they can share technology with it," said Prof Larijani. He added that Iran and the Gulf countries should put aside their historical disputes and cooperate following the model of the European Union.
Speaking to Gulf News after the talks, he said the Gulf countries would soon be obliged to consider the production of nuclear energy. "Production of nuclear energy would become a need for the Gulf countries as well. Sooner or later all of them would need energy because their resources [oil and gas] are not unlimited. With this in mind, the safety regulations become a collective bargain."
Hasan Rowhani, head of the Strategic Research Centre in Iran, addressing the Arab World Competitiveness Roundtable in Doha this week, called for the creation of the Arabian Gulf Security and Cooperation Organisation comprising GCC, Iran and Iraq.
The group would aim to establish a common security framework, combating terrorism, sectarianism, organised crime and drug trafficking.
Iran would continue on the path of uranium enrichment despite international sanctions, Iranian delegates here said. "Our energy demand grows by more than 10 per cent per year. It is a matter of national interest and economic development," Alireza Shaikhattar told Gulf News.
Crisis: We can survive without outside help - minister
Asked how the sanctions would impact Iran's nuclear technology development and economy, Alireza Shaikhattar, deputy foreign minister for economic affairs of Iran, said sanctions would only have the result of affecting oil prices, with severe consequences for the entire world.
"More sanctions would only hike oil prices with negative consequences for all. The United States is building a case against us, but it seems not to be aware of our capabilities and potential. We are an independent country in many regards, we produce everything internally and we can continue to develop our nuclear technology without any help," he said.
"Sanctions would not affect us seriously. This is why they are trying to paralyse our banking and financial system. But Iran has strong historical ties with financial and monetary institutions all over the world. They must consider the volume and capacity of our economy. They cannot ignore Iran."
- B.B.
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