'Iran not to develop atomic weapons'
Pakistan Times NWFP Bureau Report

PESHAWAR: Iranian Consul General in Peshawar Muhammad Hassan Emaani said on Sunday Iran has acquired atomic technology for the development of the country and was totally against the fabrication of atomic weapons.

Addressing a press conference here at Press Club, Mr. Emaani unequivocally rejected the impression that Iran mentioned the name of Pakistan or its nuclear scientist Dr. A. Q. Khan for acquiring atomic know how or technology.

"The highest Iranian authority has repeatedly denied the involvement of Pakistan in the transfer of atomic technology to Iran and said it was indigenously developed," said the diplomat.

Tool for Development

He explained that atomic technology was a tool for development in today's world and every country acquired it for the development of its social infrastructure." As no country could progress without acquiring computer technology the same is the case with atomic technology," he maintained.

To a question Emaani denied that his government was sending troops in Iraq to destabilize the regime.

Afghan Refugees

Emaani said Iran has been hosting Afghan refugees in huge numbers for last few decades and there existed mutual love and respect between the Afghan refugees the people of Iran.

"The Afghan refugees have married Iranian girls, therefore question of adopting unfriendly attitude with them does not arise," he maintained.

However, he said that as per the UN charter, any refugee found in anti-state activities would be taken to task as national security comes first.

To a question he said that in 26 years since the Islamic revolution of 1979, Iranian nation has went to polls 25 times.

Of Social Sectors

Emaani also recounted the development Iran has achieved since the revolution especially in social sectors like health, education and agriculture.He said country's petrochemical infrastructure was totally destroyed in the Iran-Iraq war.

But the Iranian nation and its leadership worked round the clock to rebuild their country and today literacy rate stood at 90 percent which was 30 percent before the revolution. "UNESCO has declared Iran as role model as far as literacy ratio was concerned," he observed.

Iran was a which the major importer of wheat before revolution, he said, was now not only self reliant in wheat but was also exporting the commodity.●