Iran's nuclear negotiator offers cooperation, on condition

Iran’s top nuclear negotiator today urged caution in how the dispute over his country’s nuclear programme is handled, but promised co-operation from Tehran if the issue was dealt with by the International Atomic Energy Agency rather than by the UN Security Council.

“There should not be hasty movements that will lead us to a confrontation,” Ali Larijani said during a visit to Athens, adding: “There is time for diplomacy. The basic body that must solve this issue is the IAEA.”

Sending Iran’s nuclear file to the Security Council was “a step in the wrong direction”, he said.

Larijani was meeting with Greek Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis, a day after attending meetings in neighbouring Turkey.

Greece, a non-permanent member of the Security Council, has called for a diplomatic solution to the problem.

At a press conference later, Larijani said Iran would stay in the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty.

But he noted that Iran’s parliament had said that if “threats” continued, the government “must withdraw its signature from the additional protocol”, which permits IAEA inspectors to mount spot checks.