TEHRAN, 23 July 2005 — Iran’s former influential President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani said yesterday that it would be “shameful” for Tehran to give up its right to peaceful nuclear technology. “The monopolistic powers want to deprive us of our legitimate right but with wisdom and suitable actions we will not allow them,” Rafsanjani said in a sermon broadcast on state radio.

“Future generations would consider it shameful that their country was deprived (of nuclear technology).” Iran has said it may resume sensitive uranium enrichment activities, a key part of the nuclear fuel cycle, if it is not happy with the result of negotiations with the European Union on its nuclear program.

The European Union is seeking to engage the Islamic state, offering trade and other benefits to persuade it to curb its nuclear plans, and promised detailed proposals for technological, commercial and political cooperation by August.

Tehran insists its nuclear activities are for peaceful purposes but the United States suspects it is seeking to build an atomic bomb.

On Thursday, Iran said talks with Europeans in London on Wednesday aimed at guaranteeing that the Islamic republic does not produce nuclear weapons were “constructive.” French President Jacques Chirac warned Iran that the UN Security Council will have to become involved if agreement cannot be reached on Iran’s nuclear ambitions.

“I hope that they will end favorably and eliminate the danger of proliferation,” Chirac told the Israeli daily Haaretz. “If that is not the case then it will naturally fall to the Security Council to consider the question.” Asked about the possibility of a military strike against Iran, Chirac replied: “Military attacks are not a solution to this kind of problem.

Germany, France and Britain pledged to come up with a new proposal for cooperation with Iran by the end of July or beginning of August. On Thursday Iran’s president-elect, Mahmood Ahmadinejad, said that Iran has remained faithful to its international obligations in the nuclear realm but will not be deprived of its rights.

“Just as we hate weapons of mass destruction, we hate that some want to deprive other people from the right to peacefully use nuclear energy,” Ahmadinejad said.

Ganji’s Family Protests Woeful

Hospital Conditions

Meanwhile, the family of Iran’s highest profile political prisoner said yesterday his fragile health has worsened and protested at poor hospital conditions after he was moved to a facility outside prison on the 37th day of his hunger strike.

“(Akbar) Ganji was hospitalized (in jail) while he was on hunger strike and the conditions in which he finds himself in the hospital are worse than in prison,” said a letter to Milad Hospital signed by family members.

“Ganji does not get newspapers, his family has a hard time getting in to see him... and he has no telephone access, which is against hospital rules,” said the letter, which Iran’s student-run news agency ISNA said was signed by Ganji’s wife, his mother, two brothers and one sister.

The letter added that “Ganji’s physical condition had worsened since his hospitalization” and demanded that the hospital director give a daily report on his condition.

The dissident journalist was sentenced in 2001 to six years behind bars over articles he wrote linking senior regime officials to the serial murders of several intellectuals and writers.

But Tehran’s ultra-hard-line prosecutor Said Mortazavi, who has jailed a multitude of journalists, opposition figures and students, denied that Ganji was on hunger strike and said he had been transferred for a knee operation.