TEHRAN, 1 November 2004 — The Iranian Parliament yesterday overwhelmingly approved a measure calling on the government to continue development of its civilian nuclear program. The move came as Iranian legislators withdrew a proposal that sought to force the government to resume uranium enrichment, the news agency IRNA reported.
The proposal, backed by 247 of Parliament’s 290 lawmakers, did not specifically force the government to resume uranium enrichment or end snap UN inspections of atomic facilities as some lawmakers had called for.
But the outline bill approved yesterday could incorporate such suggestions during subsequent discussions, lawmakers said in a session broadcast live on state radio. “The message of this bill is that we will not give in to pressure ... The Iranian nation is determined to use peaceful nuclear technology,” Parliament Speaker Gholamali Haddadadel said after the bill was approved unanimously.
The European Union has urged Iran to freeze uranium enrichment — a process that can be used for nuclear power or to make atomic bombs — before the next meeting of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on Nov. 25.
Failure to do so could mean Iran’s case will be referred to the UN Security Council for possible sanctions.
Iran denies US charges it is secretly building nuclear weapons and, despite being a major oil producer, says it will press ahead with all aspects of its nuclear program in order to generate electricity from atomic reactors to meet booming demand.
