Iran to UN: sponsors of illegal resolutions must pay compensation

Today's Chutzpah Award goes to Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki!




New York, March 26, IRNA

Iran on Wednesday protested to United Nations Secretary-General over negligence of the international law by the Security Council in passing resolutions against Iran.

In a letter to Ban Ki-moon, Mottaki said that sponsors of such illegal resolutions must pay compensation for the damages such resolutions inflicted on Iran.

IRNA reporter in New York said that Mottaki's letter was delivered to UN secretary general by Iran's Permanent Representative to the UN Mohammad Khazaee on Wednesday.

After receiving the letter, the UN secretary general said "I have always supported constructive cooperation between Iran and IAEA and believe that the issue would be merely resolved through diplomatic and peaceful means."

At the meeting, Khazaee highlighted Iran's peaceful nuclear program along with constructive cooperation with the UN nuclear agency terming UN Security Council measures as 'unjustifiable'.

In the letter, Mottaki has referred to the efforts of some Security Council members who politicized Iran's peaceful nuclear activities.

Mottaki precisely elaborated on clause by clause of the resolution from legal points of views.

On Iran's legitimate rights to take advantage of nuclear energy for civilian purpose, he cited February 22 report of IAEA Director-General Mohamed Elbaradei verifying non-diversion from the civilian path and added that the UN agency put seal of approval on peaceful nature of Iran's nuclear activities.

It is quite clear that referring Iran to UN Security Council was politically motivated and the recent resolution lacks legal legitimacy which runs counter to UN Charter as well as international rights, underlined the letter.

Mottaki said that the way the Security Council dealt with Iran's nuclear program is blatant violation of international law, norms, and the governing rules and regulations of the IAEA and its Charter.

"Iran reserves the right to go to the International Court of Justice against those who have caused damage to Iran by politicizing Iran's peaceful nuclear program. Iran holds sponsors of the illegal resolutions responsible for all the damages," the Iranian foreign minister said in his letter to the UN chief.