ISLAMABAD - Hours after Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad appointed ultraconservative Ali Larijani as the countryâs new chief nuclear negotiator, Pakistan backed on Monday Iranâs right to use nuclear energy for peaceful purposes. âTeheran has the legitimate right as signatory to the Non- Proliferation Treaty (NPT), to use the nuclear energy for peaceful purposes,â Foreign Ministry spokesman Naeem Khan told reporters in Islamabad. | And who would know more about nuclear proliferation than a Pakistani named Khan? |
President Ahmadinejad appointed Monday Ali Larijani as head of the Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) to take âcorrect decisions which secure both the interests and legal rights of the nationâ.
Khan ruled out any mediation between Iran and the European Union (E.U) to resolve the continued stand-off over Teheranâs nuclear programme, saying one of the two parties would have to formally approach Islamabad to that end. âThe talks are going on to encourage both the parties to find a peaceful settlement of the crisis,â he said. Khan said that use of force against Iran must be avoided to ensure regional stability, adding âWe cannot afford another conflict or a war in the region.â |