Iran minister calls nuke resolution "illegal", but leaves negotiations door open News
Iran minister calls nuke resolution "illegal", but leaves negotiations door open

[JURIST] Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki Sunday called Saturday's International Atomic Energy Agency resolution [PDF] declaring Iran in "non-compliance" with safeguards [JURIST report] under the nuclear non-proliferation treaty (NPT) a "politically and illegally motivated decision" made to a "US pre-planned scenario", but told reporters [offical text] that Iran had not ruled out further negotiations with Germany, France and Britain, the so-called EU-3. Under the resolution, Tehran could be subject to UN Security Council sanctions. Iran has been accused by Western governments of using its nuclear program as a cover for the development of atomic weapons. Mottaki said that "Iran will not abandon its right to develop nuclear technology, including development of the fuel cycle for peaceful nuclear energy purposes guaranteed under the NPT." Voice of America has more.