TEHRAN, 29 August 2004 — Washington has hit a dead end over Iran’s nuclear dossier, lacking enough proof to demand UN sanctions and too bogged down in Iraq for a military strike, President Mohammad Khatami said yesterday. Washington is pushing the International Atomic Energy Agency to report Iran to the sanction-imposing UN Security Council, accusing Tehran of a clandestine weapons program.
“I assure you that the Americans have no evidence to prove their claims,” Khatami told reporters. Iran says its nuclear program is peaceful and is intended to meet booming domestic demand for electricity. Khatami added any US attack on Iran would be “suicidal”.
“The Americans have to deal first with their problems in Iraq before taking military action against Iran,” he said. “I believe the Americans are still rational enough not to repeat their mistakes,” he added, referring to the attack on Iraq.
Iranian officials have said that Tehran’s case will not be sent to the UN Council at next month’s IAEA board of governors meeting in Vienna. The IAEA’s new Iran report is due to be circulated to the board of governors in the coming days.
Khatami called for the board of governors to take Iran’s dossier off the agenda but suggested he was being optimistic. “I doubt that Iran’s case is going to be closed at the next IAEA meeting,” he told the reporters.
