VOA标准英语2009年-Iran Plans to Protest International At

Iran's foreign ministry 1 spokesman says Tehran plans to take legal action after being rebuked 3 by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) over its nuclear program

Edward Yeranian | Cairo 01 December 2009

This Sept. 26, 2009 satellite file image provided by GeoEye shows a facility under construction inside a mountain located about 20 miles north northeast of Qom, Iran

Iran's foreign ministry spokesman says Tehran plans to take legal action after being rebuked by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) over its nuclear program. 

Iran Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast criticized the International Atomic Energy Agency rebuke 2 of Tehran's nuclear program and expressed displeasure with those U.N. member countries that voted in favor of it.

In a measured and even tone of voice, Mehmanparast stressed Tehran would protest the censure 4 by sending written complaints to the countries that supported it.

He says Tehran will send short notes of complaint to those countries that unfairly criticized (Iran) over its (nuclear program), with an explanation about why they were wrong.

Mehmanparast added Iran would "not give up its rights," to produce nuclear power, and issued a vague threat to take legal action against those trying to prevent it from doing so.

He also took jabs at China and Russia for supporting the IAEA censure, but insisted strategic relations with both countries would continue.  Iranian officials have slammed Russia in recent weeks for delays in completing a nuclear plant at Bushehr and in delivering S-300 air defense 5 missiles.

At a press conference in Tehran, Mehmanparast suggested Western nations are "over-reacting" to Iran's announcement Sunday it would build 10 new nuclear enrichment facilities.

"Iran," he told a journalist, "needs the (nuclear) fuel from those plants to meet its energy needs and to remain energy self-sufficient."

Former National Security Council member and Iran analyst 6 Gary Sick poked 7 fun at Iran's declared intent to build 10 new enrichment facilities, noting that it would "take 500 years to complete the program as announced."

The IAEA's outgoing Director General, Mohammed al-Baradei, whose tenure 8 at the agency ended Monday, wrote in his final report last week that the agency has "been able to verify that no known stocks of nuclear fuel have been diverted from authorized 9 uses."

Gary Sick concludes that Iran's recent pattern of making exaggerated claims is an example of "classic blustery [by President Mahmoud] Ahmedinejad." 

"It is also the kind of ante-raising that one might expect in a negotiating game of 'chicken.'" he said.

Meanwhile, Mr. Ahmedinejad's brother-in-law and political ally, Esfandiar Rahim Meshaie, indicated that stern measures could be taken against five British yachtsmen who strayed into Iranian territorial 10 waters, if it was proven that they had, what he called, evil intentions."