Iran not to slacken off 'inalienable' nuclear rights: envoy

Tehran, Aug. 28 (Xinhua-ANI): Iran's permanent representative to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Ali Asghar Soltanieh said here Tuesday that the Islamic republic will not slacken off its "inalienable" nuclear rights.

Soltanieh made the remarks on the sidelines of the ministerial level meeting of the Non-aligned Movement (NAM) which started in Iranian capital on Tuesday.

"We have been committed to all our international obligations, including the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) as well as IAEA directives, and we will never slow down on our inalienable ( nuclear) rights," said Soltanieh.

He said that Iran's nuclear establishments and facilities are under the regular inspection of IAEA's inspectors and there is no evidence that in the past 10 years there has been any diversion in Iran's "peaceful" nuclear activities.

"Iran has been backed by the NAM member states in the IAEA's meetings for its rights to peaceful use of nuclear energy," Soltanieh said, adding that Iran is grateful for those countries in this regard.

During the ongoing meeting of the NAM, Iran is trying to gain more support from the participants for its nuclear program, which, it claims, is aimed at "civilian" use. But the West suspects it may have military dimensions. (Xinhua-ANI)