Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has praised Iran as a “peace-seeking” country, in the face of increasing allegations by Western powers against Tehran’s peaceful nuclear program.
Yukiya Amano made the remark at a Friday ceremony marking the 33rd anniversary of the victory of Iran’s Islamic revolution at the country’s embassy in the Austrian capital of Vienna. The ceremony was attended by high-ranking Iranian and foreign diplomats.
The anniversary of founder of Islamic revolution Imam Khomeini's return to Iran on February 1, 1979, marks the beginning of the Ten Days of Dawn celebrations, which culminate on February 11 -- the anniversary of the victory of the Islamic Revolution.
On the sidelines of the ceremony, Amano held friendly talks with Iranian diplomats, including Iran's envoy to the IAEA Ali Asghar Soltanieh and Tehran’s Ambassador to Vienna Ebrahim Sheibani. Amano also congratulated both the Iranian nation and government on the anniversary of the triumph of the 1979 Revolution.
IAEA’s Deputy Director General Herman Nackaerts also attended the event. The presence of the agency’s top officials was interpreted by other diplomats as an important and positive sign with regard to Iran’s nuclear issue.
The US, Israel, and their European allies accuse Iran of pursuing a military nuclear program and have convinced the UN Security Council to impose four rounds of sanctions on the country.
Tehran has categorically refuted Western allegation, saying that as a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and a member of the International Atomic Energy Agency it has the right to acquire and develop nuclear technology for peaceful purposes.
Iran has also repeatedly opened up its nuclear facilities to international inspectors and called for dialogue and diplomatic means to allay the so-called Western concerns over its nuclear activities.
PressTV
