24-05-11 China backs Irans nuclear rights

Iranian Ambassador to Beijing Mehdi Safari says China has always thrown its weight behind the Islamic Republics right to use nuclear technology for peaceful applications.China has always believed that Iran has a legitimate right to use nuclear energy,Safari told IRNA on Monday.He expressed hope that Beijing would pursue its fair stance on Irans peaceful nuclear activities and defend the countries right to use the technology.The Iranian envoy pointed to the current visit by Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi to Beijing and noted that nuclear talks are on the agenda of talks between Iranian and Chinese officials.As a permanent member of the UN Security Council and a member state of the Areaffirmed Iran's right to use nuclear technology for A purposes and stressed that negotiations and dialogue are the right approach to address the Islamic Republics nuclear issue.On May 15,Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad once again expressed Tehrans readiness to hold talks with the six major world powers (P5+1) based on mutual respect.The Islamic Republic has always been ready to hold talks with the five permanent members of the UN Security Council Russia,China,Britain,France and the US plus Germany in fair and respectful conditions,said President Ahmadinejad.Iran and the P5+1 held two rounds of multifaceted talks in Geneva in December 2010 and in the Turkish city of Istanbul last January.Tehran has blasted the United States and its Western allies over their false accusations aimed at undermining Iran's nuclear breakthroughs and scientific achievements.Iran has argued that as a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and a member of the International Atomic Energy Agency,it has every right to utilize nuclear technology for peaceful applications.