Iran may consider withdrawing from NPT: MP

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Iran may consider withdrawing from NPT: MP

http://www.presstv.com/detail.aspx?id=1 ... =351020104


Senior Iranian MP Hassan Ghafourifard

A senior Iranian lawmaker says Iran may consider withdrawing from the NPT if the Western powers continue to pressure the Islamic Republic to relinquish its inalienable right to enrich uranium to produce nuclear fuel.

"If the P5+1 continues to talk with us with the language of force to push us into a corner, and to talk about more sanctions, there might be no choice but to step out of the talks," MP Hassan Ghafourifard told Press TV in an exclusive interview on Tuesday.

"Our patience has a limit. We have been discussing this problem for the three to four years and they have always asked Iran to stop enrichment," he added.

The Iranian parliamentarian stated that Iran will not suspend its uranium enrichment program "under any condition."

"For the first step, we may step out of talks with the P5+1. If things go from bad to worse, then we might take more action on that... like withdrawing from the NPT (nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty)," Ghafourifard said.

"If they don't want to understand the position, which is the position of peaceful enrichment of uranium, then there might be no use to stay in the NPT," he added.

Iran and the P5+1 group (the five permanent members of the UN Security Council -- the United States, Britain, France, Russia, and China -- plus Germany) are scheduled to hold talks in Geneva on October 1.

Ghafourifard was commenting on a statement issued by Iranian lawmakers on Tuesday that urged the Western powers to avoid repeating their "past mistakes" about Iran's nuclear program.

A total of 239 MPs of Iran's 290-member parliament (Majlis) issued a statement on Tuesday saying that the upcoming talks between Tehran and the P5+1 will be an important test for the group.

"We strongly support the scheduled talks within (the framework of) Iran's package of proposals and warn the negotiating countries that this is a historic opportunity to break the deadlock and resolve the problem," the statement said.

Tehran has repeatedly declared that it will never relinquish the Iranian nation's legitimate nuclear rights under Western pressure.

MT/MGH/HGL