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Iran says will continue cooperation with IAEA+(Japan Economic Newswire Via Thomson Dialog NewsEdge)TEHRAN, Feb. 5_(Kyodo) _ Iran said Sunday that it will continue to cooperate with the International Atomic Energy Agency and is prepared to negotiate with the international community. "The door for negotiations is still open," Foreign Ministry spokesman Hamid Reza Asefi told a morning press conference, according to the Associated Press. He reiterated that despite the IAEA's move to have the Islamic republic reported to the U.N. Security Council, Iran would cooperate with the IAEA "within the framework of the NPT and the Safeguard Agreement." "We chose our way wisely. We have solutions for all situations that may develop. Referring Iran to the Security Council will definitely harm the other party more than Iran," Asefi was quoted as saying. The IAEA on Saturday adopted a resolution to report the Iranian nuclear issue to the U.N. Security Council for noncompliance with its obligations set under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty Safeguards Agreement. Twenty-seven of 35 countries comprising the IAEA's Board, including the five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council, voted in favor. After the vote on Saturday, Iranian delegation head Javad Vaeidi told reporters at the IAEA headquarters that Iran would cease all voluntary cooperation with the IAEA and take up its enrichment activities. Asefi also said Iran will hold talks with Moscow on a proposal to enrich Iranian uranium in Russia. "The situation has changed. Still, we will attend talks with Russia on Feb. 16," the AP report quoted Asefi as saying. |