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tougher UN inspections of its nuclear facilities, asserting instead that drawn-out negotiat!ons may be
necessary.
"There is no have-to involved. We hope that in negotiations with Mr. EIBaradei, the two sides can cover
subjects that allow us to build mutual trust,'· he said, adding that lIif not, negotiations must continue'·.
The IAEA has been urging Iran immediately sign, ratify and implement an additional protocol to the
nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) that would allow its teams to conduct surprise inspections of
suspect sites.
So far the Vienna-based UN body is only allowed to,pay pre-arranged visJts to declared sites, but Iran
has been urged to open up its nuclea·r programme amid widespread fears it is also seeking t9 acquire a
nuclear arsenal.
EIBaradei has been backed up by G8 leaders and the European Union. Individual states, Japan, France,
Britain, Australia, Russia and the United States, have also echoed the demand. Foreign diplomats here
have asserted they are not prepared to see lengthy negotiations on the issue.
But Asefi said that for Iran, the additional protocol problem is "not a black and white Issue·'.
IIFor every problem there is a solution, and for this problem we must negotiate and we are fully ready to
listen,II he told reporters.
In June, EIBaradei said the Islamic republic had not fully respected the NPT by failing to inform the IAEA
of some of its nuclear activities, including the import of uran'um in 1991.
Iranian officials have dismissed the criticism.s as technicalities, and have consistently asserted they are
ready to allow a tougher inspections regime, but only on the condition that other,NPT signatories first
assist its nuclear power programme -- one of their treaty obligations.
Asefi also dismissed threats from some EU quarters that negotiations over a trade and cooperatiop
agreement -- which the EU hopes will YJeld progress on political, human rights and military concerns in
Iran -- could be torpedoed by Iranls intransigence on inspections.
liThe commercial cooperation accord would be profitable for both -sides, so this cannot be used as
leverage and the Islamic republic will not accept such pressure,'I he said.
I'Sanctions against the Islamicrepublic have been ineffective. The Europeans should be careful about
what they say and avoid using threats."
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