BEIJING -- Chinese Assistant Foreign Minister Cui Tiankai will head for Iran
Monday, according to the Foreign Ministry.
During his stay, he will confer the Iranian side on Iran's nuclear issue and
other international and regional issues of common concern.
Iran warned on Sunday that it would withdraw from the International Atomic
Energy Agency (IAEA) if its "inalienable rights" are deprived of, the official
IRNA news agency reported.
"If depriving Iran of its inalienable rights is the result of its membership
in international organizations, including the IAEA, our withdrawal from such
bodies is well justified," parliamentary speaker Gholam-Ali Hadad-Adel was
quoted as saying.
He reiterated Iran's rejection to a UN Security Council resolution that urges
Tehran to "suspend all enrichment-related and reprocessing activities, including
research and development" by August 31 or face the prospect of sanctions.
The Iranian parliament chief, however, emphasized that the path of
negotiations was still open to solve the country's nuclear issue.
The UN Security Council on July 31 adopted a resolution urging Tehran to
"suspend all enrichment-related and reprocessing activities, including research
and development" by August 31 or face the prospect of sanctions.
Due to the insistence of council members such as Russia and China, the
resolution dropped the threat of immediate sanctions and required the council to
hold further discussions before sanctions are considered.
Iranian officials have recently expressed indignation over the UN demand,
warning the world body against taking acrimonious measures to force Iran to
comply or Iran would quit the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and stop
cooperation with the IAEA.
An Iranian member of the parliament warned Saturday that the West may demand
more concession from Iran even if the Islamic Republic agrees to suspend its
uranium enrichment, local Fars News Agency reported.
The United States has accused Iran of secretly developing nuclear weapons
under a civilian front, a charge categorically denied by Tehran which says that
its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes.
