Iran 'will trade nuclear secrets'

Printer2 · #1 (**permalink**) 09-15-2005, 12:51 PM

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4250264.stm

Quote:

Iran 'will trade nuclear secrets'

The UN summit is Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's first foreign trip
Iran is ready to trade nuclear secrets with other Islamic states for peaceful purposes, the country's leader Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has said.
State news agency Irna quoted him as saying an Islamic republic "never seeks weapons of mass destruction".

The ultra-conservative leader, elected in June, was speaking at a fringe meeting at the UN world summit.

The UK, France, Germany and the US are pressing Iran to provide more access to its nuclear plans.

The four countries are expected to put their case to a meeting of the International Atomic Energy Authority (IAEA) on Monday.

'Nuclear know-how'

Mr Ahmadinejad's comments on nuclear technology came at a meeting with Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Irna quoted the Iranian president as saying: "With respect to the needs of Islamic countries, we are ready to transfer nuclear know-how to these countries."

Iran has insisted it has the right to pursue a civilian nuclear programme for peaceful purposes until negotiations break down.

But the US suspects Iran's scheme is a cover for a nuclear weapons programme.

An IAEA report earlier this month said questions about Iran's nuclear programme remained unanswered, despite an intensive investigation.

Tehran argued the findings were politically motivated, but said it would continue to co-operate with the agency.