Iran denies desire for WMD
Iranian President Mohammad Khatami says his country has never actively sought to amass weapons of mass destruction.
The UN nuclear watchdog the International Atomic Energy Agency last November slammed Tehran for an 18-year cover-up over atomic research.
Mr Khatami told delegates and reporters at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland yesterday: “Iran has never been after weapons of mass destruction.
“We vehemently oppose the manufacture and production of nuclear weapons. For this reason we extend sincere and honest co-operation with the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency).”
Answering a direct question from his audience, Mr Khatami said he categorically denied there had been a shipment of nuclear material by North Korea to Iran.
“We have nothing to hide.”
Mr Khatami told delegates he had no intention of resigning in light of the controversy surrounding the exclusion of candidates from next month’s parliamentary elections in Iran.
‘My colleagues and I will be at the service of Iran and God willing we will have free and fair elections,’ he said.
More than 2,000 participants are expected at the five-day event, with high profile business leaders and more than 30 heads of state due to attend.
At the meeting yesterday, Foreign Secretary Jack Straw told delegates that he welcomed moves by the UN to help resolve the dispute over elections in Iraq and he defended the US-led coalition’s decision to wage war against the country.
