Spokesman: Iran to celebrate nuclear victory in February

Source: Xinhuanet | 12-19-2006 15:58

TEHRAN, Dec. 18 (Xinhua) -- Iranian government spokesman Gholam-Hossein Elham said on Monday that his country will celebrate a nuclear victory in February, the official IRNA news agency reported.

Iran will "announce the achievement and establishment of peaceful nuclear technology and the due power of the country" during the Ten Day Dawn ceremonies (Feb. 1-11) in 2007, Elham said.

The Ten Day Dawn ceremonies mark the victory of the Islamic Revolution in Iran in 1979 and are held in Iran every year.

Iran's access to the peaceful nuclear technology has been based on international regulations and is under the supervision of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Elham said.

The path to attain this scientific achievement has been legal and transparent, he added.

Elham called on "international bodies and certain countries" to refrain from hostile attitudes toward the Islamic republic, saying" Tehran will never withdraw from its path."

He also reiterated Iran's warning that it might revise its relationship with the IAEA if the UN Security Council imposes sanctions against it.

"If they violate Iran's rights, Tehran will make use of its existing potentials to restore its rights," Elham said.

Iran has said that it needs to use nuclear power as a peaceful, alternative energy source and has the right to do so under the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).

However, the West has accused Iran of trying to produce nuclear weapons under a civilian cover, a charge denied by Tehran.

Due to Iran's resistance to suspend uranium enrichment, the European countries and the United States have been seeking a UN Security Council resolution to impose sanctions on Tehran.

Editor:Ji Xuewen