14-08-09 Iran Urges Ban on Attacking Nuclear Installations

Iran's representative at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Ali Asqar Soltanieh said on Thursday that Tehran has asked the UN to hold a conference of 150 countries to vote on a proposal which prohibits attacks on nuclear installations.The request was made on Wednesday through a letter which was sent to the UN Director General, Mohammed ElBaradei."In that letter,Iran formally requested that the proposal be presented at the International Atomic Energy Agency's (IAEA) general conference in September," Soltanieh told FNA."The protection of such installations is of great importance," he added.Soltanieh further pointed out that in September 1990,the IAEA general conference passed a resolution,proposed by Iran,entitled "Prohibition of All Armed Attacks Against Nuclear Installations Devoted to Peaceful Purposes Whether Under Construction or in Operation." "It is necessary to protect such facilities as the number of nuclear installations has increased since then," he said."It is undoubtedly a matter of concern for all countries." "The proposal will surely be supported by other countries and will pave the way for discussing and approving a resolution in this regard at the IAEA general conference to be held on September 14," Soltanieh concluded