Iranian official denies aid from Pakistan in nuclear program

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Thursday, January 15, 2004

Iranian official denies aid from Pakistan in nuclear program

Visiting Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Asia-Pacific Affairs Mohsen Aminzadeh in Islamabad on Wednesday denied reports that Pakistani nuclear scientists have helped in its nuclear program.

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Visiting Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Asia-Pacific Affairs Mohsen Aminzadeh in Islamabad on Wednesday denied reports that Pakistani nuclear scientists have helped in its nuclear program.

"Iran's nuclear program has been developed by our own scientists and there is no outside assistance," the Iranian official said at a news conference after talks with Pakistani officials.

The Iranian deputy foreign minister met with Prime Minister MirZafarullah Jamali, Foreign Minister Khurshid Kasuri, Finance Minister Shaukat Aziz and Foreign Secretary Riaz Khokhar.

He admitted that two persons from the region played the role of brokers to purchase necessary equipment for Iran's nuclear program. However, he did not disclose the nationality of the two.

He said that three European nationals also helped Iran in purchases from the international market.

"We had provided information to the International Atomic Energy Agency about the purchases from the international market and those played role of brokers," he said.

Aminzadeh said there is no violation of international laws in purchase of equipment for the nuclear program.

"I was surprised over reports in the Pakistani newspapers," he said, adding that the reports were not true.

He also welcomed normalization of ties between Pakistan and India and said the ties would ensure regional peace and will lead to resolution of the Kashmir dispute.

He hoped that improved relations between Pakistan and India will have positive impact on the Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline. He said the pipeline is beneficial for Pakistan even if India does not join the project.

The Iranian official said Tehran supports the peace process in the South Asian region, saying it will give a boost to economic activities in the region.

India and Pakistan in a joint statement issued last week on the sidelines of the SAARC summit agreed to start composite dialogue in February on all issues including the Jammu and Kashmir, after a two-year suspension.

Aminzadeh arrived here Tuesday on a two-day official visit to Pakistan.

Source: Xinhua

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