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Tehran, Feb 10, IRNA -- `Iran Daily' on Monday echoed the words of President Mohammad Khatami that it is Iran's undeniable right to pursue nuclear energy for peaceful and beneficial purposes.
President Khatami on Sunday spoke of Iran's determination to generate 6,000 megawatts of electricity by utilizing nuclear power.
Speaking at a gathering of ministry of science, research and technology officials and university chancellors, the president also announced the discovery of uranium deposits near the historic city of Yazd, his home city, and the establishment of uranium processing units in Kashan and Isfahan.
The rise in the cost of production and exploitation of oil and the decline in oil reserves have led countries to consider producing nuclear power as a logical alternative to meet their electricity and other power needs, the daily's managing director, M. Taqi Roghaniha, wrote in its Perspective column.
It may be worth mentioning here that as an alternative to oil, nuclear power has the added advantage of being a cleaner source of power.
In 1968, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) was established to ensure that countries that produce nuclear energy would not be a threat to global peace and security by confining their programs to peaceful purposes.
"The IAEA, among other things, has the duty to assist states use atomic power for peaceful purposes."
According to the Perspective, it has become increasingly recognized globally that nuclear energy is an "indisputable exigency" and that the IAEA must, therefore, promote its development.
Even before the victory of the Islamic Revolution in 1979, Iran had already launched construction of a nuclear power facility which was halted when the Iraqis invaded the country in 1980.
The Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant, now in the final stage of completion with Russian assistance, is the country's only nuclear power facility. It has been inspected time and again by the world's nuclear watchdog and found to be for peaceful purposes.
"The project for exploiting uranium in Saqand, 200 km (from the central city of) Yazd, and the establishment of the uranium processing unit in Isfahan are among the recent initiatives of the government," the Perspective further said.
It reiterates that "Tehran is committed to its nuclear program in a transparent and clear manner and on the basis of all internationally accepted regulations."
It is the right of any country to use modern technology at its disposal to pursue progress and a better life for its people, the daily said, and urged the IAEA to "facilitate access of all countries to nuclear technology for peaceful purposes."
It said IAEA inspectors should conduct their job "professionally and without the influence of outsiders."
Only by sticking to their mandated objectives and enforcing professional standards can the IEAE's credibility be maitained, it concluded.
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