Iran yesterday insisted that it was not seeking a nuclear weapon, rejecting accusations by France that its atomic drive was "clandestine" and "military" in nature.
The allegations from French Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy were the first time a top European official has made such explicit claims against Tehran and highlighted increasing EU exasperation over Tehran's nuclear program.
"Contrary to all the propaganda against us, we are not seeking a nuclear bomb, since we are a signatory to [the] Non-Proliferation Treaty," said Ali Larijani, Tehran's chief nuclear negotiator.
"It is Western propaganda that keeps on saying that Iran is seeking a bomb, but it is not true," Larijani, also the head of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, told France Inter radio.
Douste-Blazy's comments came two days after Tehran confirmed it had resumed uranium enrichment work, a process that can be used both to make fuel for a power station or the explosive core of a nuclear bomb.
"It's very simple: no civilian nuclear program can explain Iran's nuclear program," the minister told France 2 TV. "Therefore it's a clandestine military nuclear program."
Larijani retorted: "I am very sorry to hear such comments from him, France possesses a high position among the Iranians."
"It is better for France to use its position to solve the issue. Complicating the situation is easy, but diplomats should refrain from harsh comments," he said. "We should not hear the same comments from the EU countries as we are used to hear [sic] from the Americans."
He reaffirmed Iran's position that it was ready to continue negotiations with the Europeans.
Negotiations between Iran and Europe, supposed to have taken place last month, never materialized owing to Iran's resumption of enrichment related activities.
The row over Iran's nuclear ambitions has sparked an international standoff which has led to the brink of UN Security Council intervention.
The world body is awaiting a March 6 report by IAEA chief Mohamed ElBaradei before deciding how to proceed.
Asked about whether Iran would halt oil sales to the West, Larijani issued a veiled warning: "We will not take the first step. But if they take on a behavior that changes the region's conditions, it may have an affect."
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