Iran has once more rejected accusations it is building nuclear weapons, insisting its enrichment programme is purely peaceful despite growing international worries. Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki told euronews that Iran believes atomic energy should be available to all nations, but agreed that nuclear weapons should be banned.

“We do believe that the rights of Iran are not a matter of a deal,” said Mottaki. “The right of nations to have nuclear energy is a right for all parties in the world, for all the member states of the United Nations. Our view in this is very clear: nuclear energy for everybody, nuclear weapons for nobody.” Tehran’s response followed threats from the US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to impose what she called “crippling” sanctions on Iran if its nuclear programme is not halted. President Mahmoud Ahmedinejad said last week his country had prepared proposals to resolve the dispute, but gave no details.More about: Iran, Nuclear Energy

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