NEW DELHI, 23 February 2005 — Iran is studying the question of joining the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi said yesterday.
“That has been in the talks for some time,” he said in response to questions after a lecture on India-Iran relations at the Indian Council of World Affairs here whether Tehran’s membership of the seven-nation club came up during his talks with Indian leaders.
“We are studying the question of accession to SAARC,” he said.
He referred to Iran’s borders with South Asia and said the country could provide the region with East-West connectivity. He did not say whether any of the seven SAARC member nations — India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bhutan and the Maldives — had extended Iran an invitation. There has been a move by Pakistan and Bangladesh to get China as a SAARC member, but India and Bhutan have reservations about it. Under the SAARC charter all decisions have to be unanimous.
Questioning the United States’ accusations against Iran having a secret nuclear weapons program, Kharrazi said that Tehran was cooperating with the IAEA and the European countries on its atomic program “constantly and positively.” The country had the right to develop its nuclear program in accordance with rules and regulations set by IAEA, he said. Kharrazi lashed out at Washington, saying it wanted to destabilize West Asia with its unilateralism and warned against the use of American force in the region.
“The US policy of unilateralism in the region constitutes a real threat to regional states,” Kharrazi said.
“The ultimate goal...is to destabilize countries in the region,” Kharrazi said. The United States suspects Iran of developing atomic weapons and has not ruled out military action against the Gulf nation. Iran has warned the US not to attack its nuclear facilities, saying talks with European nations might produce a deal to defuse the dispute.
US President George W. Bush is currently in Europe pressing his trans-Atlantic allies to step up pressure on Iran and Syria, seen by Washington as repressive regimes.
But Iran, dubbed by Bush as the “world’s primary sponsor of terror”, said it did not expect a U.S. attack on its nuclear facilities.
“We are not perceiving any American attack...(but) we are capable enough to defend ourselves,” Kharrazi said. “We are facing pressure...which seeks to deprive us of peaceful use of nuclear energy. But we shall not give up our national interests.”
Kharrazi also hit out at Washington’s desire to promote democracy around the world, especially in West Asia, saying it couldn’t be imposed on sovereign nations.
“There is no single version of democracy. Democracy must be indigenous,” he said.
“The problem is that Americans are not ready to engage in negotiations...they talk about regime change.
“The Americans are making a mistake if they can solve Middle East problems by force,” the Iranian leader said. Indian experts said Kharrazi’s trip to India was part of efforts to build support in key capitals against a possible US strike.
