Iranian lawmaker: We may bar inspectors, withdraw from NPT

Nov. 28, 2009
AP and JPost.com staff , THE JERUSALEM POST

Iran's parliament may consider withdrawing from the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty, a hardline Iranian lawmaker was quoted by the country's official IRNA news agency as saying Saturday. The threat comes a day after a resolution passed by the board of the UN nuclear agency demanded that Teheran immediately stop building its newly revealed nuclear facility and freeze uranium enrichment.

Mohammad Karamirad said Saturday parliament may also consider blocking inspection of Iran's nuclear facilities by the International Atomic Energy Agency, which it has been allowing routinely so far.

Karamirad does not speak for the government, but his statements often reflect its thinking.

Also Saturday, a senior Iranian cleric said that Iran would not be threatened or swayed by "bribery" to give up its nuclear rights.

Ahmad Khatami, speaking after prayers on the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha, said that the IAEA resolution was "completely political and not technical in nature," according to the AFP new agency.

Khatami said that if the IAEA stops fuel from reaching Iran's research reactor, Teheran would produce it by itself.

"It is your obligation, under the law, to provide fuel for the Teheran reactor," Khatami said. "Islamic Iran has shown to the world over the past 30 years that it will not back down even an inch, whether in regard to its absolute rights or in the face of threats or bribery."
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Comment: Not unexpected-Iran will of course follow what has worked so well previously:make threats of withdrawal due to unfair policies being imposed upon a country. This victim approach has been used successfully for yearws by multiple Arab groups so why not for a Persian entity? What is important are the next 3-5 days to observe how the West chooses to respond.