Saeed Jalili, the Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council (SNSC), and the country’s top nuclear negotiator stressed that the Islamic Republic will not accept anything beyond its obligations.
“We will not accept anything beyond our obligations and will not accept anything less than our rights," said Jalili.
“Iran has fulfilled its NPT obligations as an active and committed member, therefore should gain all of its rights," he added.
His remarks come ahead of a meeting between Iran and the G5+1 member countries including Britain, China, France, Russia, the United States and Germany -- in Kazakhstan’s capital city of Almaty on Tuesday.
Iran’s top security official, once again, noted that as a signatory of the NPT and member of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the Islamic Republic had the legitimate right to pursue civil nuclear programs.
Meanwhile, Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization (IAEO) on Saturday unveiled plans for the construction of more nuclear energy power plants, announcing that 16 sites have been designated for the purpose.
“Following months of efforts, 16 new sites for nuclear power plants have been designated in coastal areas of the Caspian Sea, the Persian Gulf, the Sea of Oman, [southwestern province of] Khuzestan and northwestern part of the country,” announced the chief of the IAEO.
The IAEO chief added that the projects are in line with Iran’s long-term plans to develop electricity generation via nuclear power plants and in accordance with standard and international regulations.
Fereydoun Abbasi further said that Iran has discovered more uranium deposits to improve its position among countries possessing nuclear technology.
Following the new discoveries over the past 1.5 years, the country’s mineral reserves and resources have increased 4.5 times compared to 35 years ago.
The United States, the Israeli regime and some of their allies have falsely accused Iran of pursuing non-civilian objectives in its nuclear energy program.
Iran has vehemently rejected the allegation arguing that as a committed signatory to the NPT and a member of the IAEA, it is entitled to use nuclear technology for peaceful purposes.
The IAEA has conducted numerous inspections of nuclear facilities in Iran. However, the agency has never found any evidence showing that Tehran’s nuclear energy program has been diverted toward military objectives.