Iran offers total transparency to IAEA

21 October 2003
Foreign Affairs Minister Kamal Kharrazi on 21 October told counterparts from the UK, Germany and France that Iran would offer 'total transparency' over its nuclear programmes. Speaking in Tehran with UK Foreign Secretary Jack Straw, German Foreign Affairs Minister Joschka Fishcer, and French Foreign Affairs Minister Dominique de Villepin, Kharrazi said that the offer was made because the country had nothing to hide. 'Our rights should be respected and what is legitimate for us should be respected, as well as our dignity and security,' he said. After the meeting, Straw acknowledged a country's right to seek nuclear energy, but added that it was important to ensure that non-proliferation was adhered to. The three European foreign affairs ministers will hold talks with senior Iranian officials in a last ditch attempt to persuade Tehran to fully comply with demands from the International Atomic Energy Agency, which call for more intrusive inspection rights. 'It is a question of trust and transparency,' said Fischer after meeting Kharrazi. 'If we can agree today it would be a step forward, if not we have a very serious problem.' (MEED 16:10:03)

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