Prodi Describes 'Tehran Declaration' as Iran's Correct Strategy
TEHRAN (FNA)- Former Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi said that the agreement made among Iran, Brazil and Turkey on the swap of nuclear fuel for the Tehran research reactor was a "correct strategy" adopted by Iran.
"You have adopted the correct strategy and by issuing the Tehran declaration and reaching an agreement with Turkey and Brazil, you have paved the way for further cooperation and moved [world] public opinion," Prodi said in a meeting with Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for European Affairs Ali Ahani.
The Italian politician also stressed that using nuclear technology is a right recognized by all and it can not be denied by anyone.
During the meeting, Ahani pointed to the expansion of political, economic and cultural relations between Iran and Italy during Prodi's term and called for further enhancement of ties between the two countries.
Iranian, Brazilian and Turkish officials on May 17 signed an agreement named the 'Tehran Declaration' which presented a solution to the longstanding standoff between Iran and potential suppliers of nuclear fuel. According to the agreement, Iran would send some 1200 kg of its 3.5% enriched uranium to Turkey in exchange for a total 120 kg of 20% enriched fuel.
But the western countries once again showed a negative and surprising reaction to the Tehran Declaration and sponsored a sanctions resolution against Iran at the UN Security Council instead of taking the opportunity presented by the agreement.
Russia, France, and the US, in three separate letters, instead of giving a definite response to the Tehran Declaration, raised some questions about the deal, and the US took a draft sanctions resolution against Iran to the UN Security Council, which was later approved by the Council.
The new UN Security Council sanctions resolution angered both Turkey and Brazil which had entered the nuclear talks with Iran at the US and other western countries' request.
Some observers had earlier announced that the Tehran Declaration cannot be seen as a proper context for any Iran-West talks on the nuclear fuel swap after the Security Council approved Resolution 1929 against Iran.
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